Wildcats Earn 10th Win, First District Win on the Road in Whitesville

Cats Prevail 57-40

Edmonson County senior shooting guard Kollin Doyle (22) drives to the bucket against District host Trinity Monday January 20 in Whitesville.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​It was a slow start for the Edmonson County Wildcats against the Trinity Raiders on the road Monday, January 20th in Whitesville.
 
A first crisis was averted when the Wildcats were finally able to get their much sought-after cheese sticks, one of the main reasons to come to Whitesville, a group of them all said before the game while watching their JV team play.
 
“We were waitin’ for ‘em cause we knew they had good cheese sticks and we were ready to have ‘em,” Edmonson County junior forward Owen Ruth said after the game. 
 
A second crisis was averted when senior power forward Braxtin Lindsey “takes the lid off the rim and the Cats are on the board,” Darren Doyle on the Edmonson Live Broadcast said, after almost three minutes of play.
 
Luckily for Edmonson County, Trinity was unable to score more than 4 points in those opening minutes.
 
The first quarter ended with Trinity up by 1 point over Edmonson County 12-11.
 
The would-be slow start turned into a defensive battle and it wasn’t until almost three minutes had passed again before anyone would score in the second quarter.
 
It would be Edmonson senior shooting guard Kollin Doyle with a 3-pointer and a lead change in favor of Wildcats, ahead now 14-12.
 
Then something seemed to click for the Wildcats and the defensive showdown, slowly started moving the pendulum towards an offensive show for the visiting Wildcats outscoring the Raiders 11-1 in the second quarter. 
 
Lindsey had 11 of his 17 rebounds of the night, already, according to the Edmonson Voice live broadcast.
 
At the end of the first half it was Edmonson County ahead of Trinity almost in double digits 22-13.

Edmonson County senior power forward Braxtin Lindsey (23) hauls in an offensive rebound against District host Trinity Monday January 20 in Whitesville.

Edmonson County junior shooting guard Tyler Wilson (1) finishes a shot against District host Trinity Monday January 20 in Whitesville.

​By the end of the third quarter, Trinity had almost double up in scoring, but unfortunately for them, so had the Wildcats and the score was 41-24 with one more eight-minute period to go.
 
Edmonson County readily defeated their district opponent Trinity 57-40 when it was all said and done.
 
“It’s a huge win for us,” Edmonson County head coach Brad Meredith said after the game on the Wildcats Live Post Game Show. “That’s what I told the boys, you don’t realize how big this win is for us.”
 
It marks 10 wins on the season and their first district win, said Meredith. And he hopes they can “rack up a few more.”
 
 Edmonson County out-rebounded Trinity 54-18 and Lindsey grabbed 11 of those in the first half.
 
With the slow start, he was glad the way his team settled in and was able to play the way he knows they can play and earn a win, he said.

Edmonson County sophomore point guard Braden Wright (0) shoots against District host Trinity Monday January 20 in Whitesville.

Edmonson County Wildctats' bench reacts to a score against District host Trinity Monday January 20 in Whitesville.

​Despite having to wait what Ruth describes as “maybe an hour and a half after being told 30 minutes, he credits the cheese sticks with helping with the win tonight, he said.
 
“It was great,” Ruth said about the win. “We just cut our turnovers and that’s what helped us play together more. Actually, want to be together, not just throw the ball wherever and lose it. It felt great to be able to come together.” 
 
It was an almost 180 degree turn around from two nights previous at home for the Wildcats.
 
Some other stats on the evening saw Doyle finish with 16 points and 4 rebounds. Lindsey finished with 9 points and his 17 rebounds, sophomore point guard Braden Wright earned 8 points with 9 rebounds, junior shooting guard Blayne Deweese had 8 points with 4 boards and rounding out the top five scorers was Ruth, who earned 7 points with 4 rebounds. Also of note, sixth in scoring, but second in rebounds, junior shooting guard Tyler Wilson had 6 points and 9 rebounds.
 
Edmonson takes the court again today, Tuesday Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. against Todd County Central in Elkton.