Lady Cats Take Lady Bears In Overtime

Edmonson Grabs District Win Despite Blown No-Call At End Of Regulation

Lauren Ballance goes up against Butler County's Jaelyn Taylor in a Lady Cat 56-47 overtime win.

Darren Doyle, story: Alyssa Doyle, photos:
It was just what you'd expect from a district game on the road: back-and-forth, ups and downs, and a blown no-call to force overtime. Well, everything except the blown call part. Edmonson County dominated in overtime and claimed the win, 56-47.

Tied at 43 each with 7.8 seconds remaining, Butler County made an in-bounds pass that was back-tipped by the Lady Cats. Edmonson's Lauren Ballance grabbed the loose ball with about 5 seconds to go near the half-court line and barreled toward the basket with the game winner on her mind. She went up for a right handed layup, was hit hard by two Butler County defenders, the ball went out of bounds, and three officials stood with their hands in their pockets and their whistles silenced.

No call. Coach Bart Weaver was furious. He motioned his hands up and down, "Are you serious? Are you serious?" he yelled at the officials. All three referees shrugged their shoulders at him. In the post game interview with Weaver, Coach said at the end of the game with the lead safely in the Lady Cats' favor, one of the officials admitted that they got it wrong.

"You know, you always hate to end a game on something like that, but when you get hammered like that, you have to call it, you just have to call that," he said. "One of the officials said he didn't see it. One of the greatest things I love about referees, one of them comes over and tells me right towards the end of the game, when we've got it won--'coach, I agree with you on that last call,' and I'm like, 'whatever, man'" he said laughing. 

Lady Cat Head Coach Bart Weaver directs his team against Butler County.

Luckily for Ballance and the Lady Cats, it wasn't the end. In fact, it was just the beginning. After trailing for nearly the entire game, Edmonson County finally executed Weaver's original game plan that consisted of: winning the rebounding battle, stay under 12 turnovers, and finishing plays when the opportunities came.

Edmonson crushed the rebounds, led by senior Emma Rose Vincent's 10 points and 12 rebound performance. Their turnovers hit 12 on the dot, despite 9 of them coming in the first half. And after Ballance tied the score at 43 with two free throws with about a minute to go in regulation, the Lady Cats took the lead in the overtime period as they outscored Butler 13-4 for the finish.

Emma Rose Vincent fights against Butler County's Taylin Clark (34) and Graci Leach (20).

Katie Lindsey brings the ball up the court against Butler County.

In addition to Ballance's 15 point, 8 rebound performance and Vincent's double-double, Katie Lindsey added 11 points, which included a 9 out of 10 showing from the free throw line, several down the stretch. Macie McCombs also added 11 points, Madison Harrison added 4 points and 7 rebounds, and Mia Goad had a three-pointer and 5 rebounds. 

Edmonson County is now 1-1 on the season and will travel to Cumberland County for a girl-boy doubleheader today beginning at 3pm. Both teams will have two district road games next week: Trinity on Tuesday and Grayson County on Friday.