Late Run By Bears Helps Overcome Wildcats

Butler County Wins 69-63

Trace Taylor finger-rolls a basket against Butler County.

Darren Doyle, story: Madison Doyle, photos:
Butler County went on a 16-0 run during the final quarter against the Wildcats last night at ECHS to come back from a 10-point deficit in a 69-63 win.

The Wildcats held the Bears scoreless at the start of the fourth, as they scored 10 straight. They led 63-53 with 5:15 to go after a three-pointer from junior Braden Wall (10 points, 6 rebounds), but that would be the last points put on the board by the Cats as Butler County snuffed out Edmonson's offense for the remainder of the game.

Braden Wall attempts a jumper against Butler County.

Butler County capitalized on a couple of turnovers from the Wildcats to help start their run. The final ten possessions for the Wildcats resulted in two turnovers, a missed shot, two more turnovers, then 5 missed baskets in a row on 5 possessions.

"It was tough in every way," said Head Coach Brad Johnson. "Tough physically. Sometimes it feels like a wrestling match a little bit, but we kinda knew that coming in. You gotta be physical with the ball. You gotta be the more physical team. And you know what? There were a lot of plays where we weren't the more physical team, to be honest with you. We made some uncharacteristic turnovers. From up ten, or whatever it was, we played bad basketball. We felt like we could do some things that they have trouble guarding us, but you can't do them if you're throwing it away before you get into that stuff. I'm disappointed. We lost our composure there a couple of times. It's mid-February, you can't say you're young anymore, you know, we've been through a season. To be successful two weeks from now, we gotta be smarter than that."

Trace Taylor led the Cats with 16 points, Braxton Highbaugh had 12 points and 8 rebounds, Evan Stice had 12 points, Braden Wall had 10 points and 6 rebounds, Tyler Anderson added 6 points, Cole Saling had 5 points, and Zander Bass added 2 points.

Evan Stice attempts a three-point basket against Butler County.

Edmonson County is now 13-11 on the season and 2-3 in the district. They are scheduled to play Whitesville Trinity on Monday. If the Wildcats win, it would place them in a tie for a two-seed in the standings (both would be 3-3 and 1-1 against each other), and there would be a coin toss to determine the 2 and 3 seeds.

If the Wildcats lose to Trinity on Monday night, the Cats would be tied with Grayson's district record of 2-4. Since Edmonson and Grayson split their contests this season, a coin toss would then determine the 3-4 seeds between the two.

Butler County is guaranteed the number one seed, even if Trinity wins over Edmonson on Monday. Although their district records would be tied at 4-2, the top seed would go to Butler County as they defeated Trinity twice during head-to-head competition this season. The Wildcats have the possibility of playing either Butler or Trinity in the first round, but they cannot play Grayson in the first round under any scenario.