Lady Cats Open Season Strong on the Road Despite Loss

Edmonson County 65 - Monroe County 70

Edmonson County Lady Cats junior center Cariann Williams (30) shoots a short jumper against host Monroe County Monday December 2 in Tompkinsville.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​Edmonson County Lady Cat basketball opened the 2024-25 season on the road against an opponent they lost to by almost 30 last season Monday, December 2nd in Tompkinsville.
 
This year, despite the same Lady Cats on the floor against the same Lady Falcons of Monroe County, the result was much different. Still a loss, but only by 5 points after leading for most of the game.
 
Edmonson County Lady Cat center Cariann Williams took the opening tip off, but they were unable to convert on their first possession, giving first blood to the Lady Falcons with a quick 2-points.
 
It didn’t last long when Lady Cats senior, coming off a season ending injury last year, shooting guard Kennadi Swihart answered with a 3-pointer.
 
The Lady Falcons did not convert on their next possession, but Swihart sank another three and in less than a minute-and-a-half, the Lady Cats were up 6-2.
 
It was a battle between the two teams with more lead changes than there were accidents on the way home after the snow, which is saying a lot because there were a few.
 
“I’m proud of our girls,” Edmonson County Lady Cats head coach Jodi Booth said after the game on the Edmonson Live broadcast Post Game Show. “They played hard in their first game.”
 
It is always tough to play on the road, he added.

Edmonson County Lady Cats sophomore point guard Shelby Sowders (50) pulls up and shoots a jumper against host Monroe County Monday December 2 in Tompkinsville.

Edmonson County Lady Cats senior point guard Jenna Cook (3) drives to shoot a contested layup against host Monroe County Monday December 2 in Tompkinsville.

​Williams has not lost a step, and as one might expect with a growing young woman, and growing basketball player, she continues to show improvement as her game experience increases. As a junior, there is nothing but the stars for her.
 
Returning Edmonson County seniors Swihart and shooting guard Jenna Cook both exude the kind of levelheaded leadership through example coaches can only hope for from their seniors.
 
Two sophomores, who once might have seemed timid on the floor, are no longer. Point guard Shelby Sowders and shooting guard Tayla Willhite both act like the belong on the floor the whole game.
 
Last year both were thrown into the deep end, with Sowders often starting and being the main ball carrier up the floor with Willhite coming in off the bench. 
 
Sowders did not trust her own ball handling and would sometimes have trouble moving the ball. This year, not only does she have the presence to use her center but there is also no fear left in her eyes when she flies in to pull up on a dime for a jumper.
 
Willhite was afraid last year. Except for when she wasn’t. When she forgot the kids were older, bigger and stronger around her and just played her game, she was lights out. This year, in the first game, off the bench she does not seem concerned any longer about the people she plays against. They are her opponents, and she will play her game.
 
Lady Cat senior power forward Julie Norris is back, and with her, her levelheaded paint play and three-point prowess when the team needs a deep bucket from the corner, and senior Maggie Cassady will serve in a number of roles for the team this season.
 
The new season should be pretty good.

Edmonson County Lady Cats senior shooting guard Kennadi Swihart (12) drives to the basket against host Monroe County Monday December 2 in Tompkinsville.

Edmonson County Lady Cats' bench reacts after a score against host Monroe County Monday December 2 in Tompkinsville.

It was a loss. Everything wasn’t perfect. But there is room still to grow. More room to grow than to say something nice about every player.
 
“Little things we can fix,” Booth said. “At least its not things we can’t fix.”
 
Transition defense was lacking and they were unable to keep their lead after going on runs, he said.
 
“I am disappointed we lost,” Swihart said after the game. “But coming from we lost by 30 when we played them the second time(in the season), and they’re a really really tough team in the 4th District, I think we played good.”
 
“We had a good battle,” Swihart said. “We wanted to win and I’m not upset with anybody on our team, I am proud of how we played.”
 
They shot the ball really well, Swihart said, and she thinks they look “100 times better than last year,” already too.
 
Williams earned a double-double with 21 points and 18 rebounds, and Sowders brought in 21 points with 3 rebounds on the night.
​
“I thought for a first game we had a really good showing and we got little things we gotta work on, but we’ll be fine,” Booth said.

Also scoring for the Lady Cats was Cook with 13 points and 4 rebounds, Swihart with 6 points and 6 rebounds, and Willhite rounded out the scoring with 4.
 
The Lady Cats host their home opener later tonight, 7 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 3 against Breckinridge County in Brownsville. The boys will travel to Owensboro to take on Owensboro Knights Christian at 7:30PM.