Wildcats Lose Rivalry Match Up Against Visiting Grayson County

Edmonson County freshman point guard Braden Wright (3) looks to score against visiting Grayson County Friday December 8 in Brownsville.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
Edmonson County drew first blood against visiting rival Grayson County but ultimately lost 77-64 Friday, December 8th in Brownsville.
 
Edmonson started out smartly, and strong. Despite being up by double digits briefly in the first quarter, Edmonson took a 9-point lead into the second.
 
The second quarter was more of a tug of war where Grayson tied it at one point with just under 2 minutes to play in the half. 
 
The half would end with Wildcats up by 2 points, 41-39.
 
This was a rivalry game and it showed with the level of determination, sometimes over-zealously, according to the technical fouls called. 
 
“I will say on our part, we got to be smarter than that,” Edmonson County head coach Trey Tinsley said after the game. 
 
They talked about it before the game, he said.
 
“Don’t get caught up in the rivalry,” Tinsley said to is team before. “Just play the game. And I thought we did that for a half, but you have to do that for four quarters.”

Edmonson County sophomore shooting guard Tyler Wilson (1) drives to the basket against visiting Grayson County Friday December 8 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County senior power forward Layne Ashley (23) shoots a jumper against visiting Grayson County Friday December 8 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior power forward Wyatt Gravil (15) reels in a loose ball against visiting Grayson County Friday December 8 in Brownsville.

With four technical fouls, including one for Tinsley when he argued a technical foul called on senior shooting guard Will Alexander after a three-pointer and an alleged taunting motion. It was Alexander's second tech of the game, which disqualified him from the remainder of the contest. According to KHSAA regulations, he may be looking a two-game suspension as a result.
 
“We have to keep out poise,” he said.
 
“We have to handle ourselves with class,” Tinsley said.
 
With 1:56 left on the clock in the third quarter it was tied again 47-47. Then with 1:13 left, Grayson would take the lead for the first time in the game.
 
They did not look back, nor surrender the lead again. 
 
Grayson made a 16-0 run against Edmonson, and the Wildcats had no answer until a free throw with 4:30 left in the game.
 
The game concluded with Grayson ahead 77-64 of host Edmonson at the final buzzer.

“It’s definitely a tough loss losing to our biggest opponent of the year so far,” senior power forward Lane Ashley said after the game. “The rivalry goes back for years, and year and years.”
 
Edmonson is a young team and will get better, Tinsley said.

Despite the loss, the Wildcats had 5 different players in double figures: Joshua Decker 13 (with 19 rebs), Tyler Wilson 12, Layne Ashley 10, Will Alexander 10, and Braden Wright 10.

​“The second half, some things didn’t go our way, it happens, we’ll come back” Ashley said.
 
They are going to take the weekend off and come back Monday at practice ready to battle, he said.
 
The boys next take on the Bluegrass Blazers Tuesday, December 12th at 7:30PM at home.