Williams' Final Second Free Throws Lifts Lady Cats Over Lady Bears 43-40

Edmonson County sophomore center Cariann Williams (30) celebrates after time runs out in the 43-40 victory against visiting District and Region rivals Butler County Bears Friday February 9 in Brownsville.

Joseph Barkoff, story and photos:
​They had just met previously the first time this season, 11 days ago to be exact, and the first game one team would be without a key player to them.
 
Region and District rival Butler County Lady Bears traveled to Brownsville face host Edmonson County Lady Cats Friday February, 9th in a rematch of a 3-point loss for the Lady Cats just 11 days ago.
 
Their first in a set of two losses for the Lady Cats after losing team leader, by example, Kennadi Swihart.
 
Swihart isn’t the point scorer, though she does have great nights. She doesn’t get the stats sophomore center Cariann Williams puts up, like a double-double almost every game, (her average) but her laissez-faire demeanor in the face of adversity is contagious.
 
Swihart charged forward and her teammates would never let her go alone. Now without, players like freshman, newly converted point guard, Shelby Sowders helps shoulder more of the charge forward.
 
The conversion is now complete, Lady Cats head coach Jody Booth said of freshman, then, three guard to the point guard player Sowders is now.
 
In the game Friday, Lady Bears would draw first blood on the Lady Cats, but the next series Williams, who might be the worst person to foul for an opponent, is fouled while dropping her shot and converts the 3-point play with her first of 11 free throws on the evening. 
 
Williams converted 10-11 free throws in her double-double of more than half the Lady Cats total points with 22 including, 16 rebounds. 
 
“She was clutch,” Lady Cats head coach Jody Booth said after the game on the Edmonson Voice Live broadcast. “That’s what your best player does. I mean that’s many minutes and hours and everything and days she spends her time in the gym when nobody’s watching, and it pays off.”
 
We never folded and attributed it to their toughness they have shown since Kennadi Swihart went down, he said.
 
“I am proud of all the girls,” Booth said.

Edmonson County freshman point guard Shelby Sowders (50) drives to the basket against visiting District and Region rivals Butler County Bears Friday February 9 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior guard Jenna Cook (3) shoots a long jumper against visiting District and Region rivals Butler County Bears Friday February 9 in Brownsville.

​There were at least six lead changes in the first quarter and Edmonson County would hold a 2-point lead heading into the second with the score 13-11 in favor of the Lady Cats over the visiting Lady Bears.
 
The Lady Bears would not go quietly and battled back to take a 4-point lead around two minutes of play in the second.
 
Like a tug-of-war between similarly powered opponents, the Lady Cats would claw back to within 2, to see it fall again away and grow.
 
With 3:07 left in the first half, Butler County was up by their largest lead yet, 7 points. It was 22-15 in favor of the Lady Bears.
 
On the next series, junior forward Julie Norris dropped a 3-pointer from the left side and suddenly, the Lady Cats’ deficit was back down to only 4 points.
 
The next defensive set, Lady Cats denied Lady Bears a score and brought the ball back down to give Sowders 2 points on the left baseline. 
 
Now, the Lady Cats were only down by 2, 22-20 and just over a minute in the first half.
 
After a jump-ball, and possession to Lady Cats, they would tie it up and defend well in the following set.
 
Tied at 22, Sowders charged into her offensive zone, the lane, she shoots. It went off the glass and into the hands of Williams, where Williams with :04.7 shoots a short jumper off her rebound for a score as time ran out in the first half.
 
The Lady Cats were ahead 24-22 at the half against visiting Butler County Lady Bears.
 
The lead would change again in favor of the Lady Bears and reach as much as 4 points with just under four minutes left in the third quarter, it was 28-24.
 
After a spin move by junior forward Maggie Cassady on the baseline under the backboard, the Lady Bear lead was cut to 2 points with around 3:30 now left in the third quarter.
 
By the end of the third quarter it was 30-28 in favor of the visiting Lady Bears, still. 
 
Eight minutes left in the game. The Lady Cats lost by 3 to the same opponent 11 days ago.

Edmonson County junior forward Maggie Cassady (15) lines up a 3-pointer against visiting District and Region rivals Butler County Bears Friday February 9 in Brownsville.

​The first points of the fourth were from Williams in the form of two free throws, and now the game was tied again. 30-30.
 
Next, it would be Cassady with a 3-pointer from deep on the left and the Lady Cats went ahead with another lead change.
 
The Lady Bears were not done yet and came back within 1, before Edmonson would pull away ever so slightly, again. It was 35-34 in favor of the home team with less than 3 minutes to play.
 
With the Lady Cats ahead by 2 points with just over 20 seconds, the Lady Bears sunk a 3-pointer and took the lead.
 
It was 40-39 in favor of Butler County with 13.4 seconds left and Booth calls a timeout to draw up an inbound play.
 
Sowders gets the ball. She drives and is knocked out along with the ball, but Lady Cats retain possession.
 
Williams gets the ball this time. She throws her own prayer but draws a foul with :04.5 seconds left. As Williams' teammates run up to her with words of encouragement, with the game on the line, she simply said to them, "I got this." Williams swished the first to tie the score and Butler County called a timeout to ice her down. Out of the timeout, Williams made the second one to give the Lady Cats the lead for good.
 
Edmonson now ahead by 2, and Butler calls a timeout to discuss their inbound with four seconds.
 
Butler would get the ball to their end but Williams intercepted the pass and as she crossed into the Lady Cats offensive area was fouled in the bonus with no time, :0.3 seconds.
 
Williams hit both free throws and the game ended with the pendulum swung three points in favor over Butler.
 
The Lady Cats won 43-40.

Edmonson County sophomore center Cariann Williams (30) shoots the final points in free throws against visiting District and Region rivals Butler County Bears Friday February 9 in Brownsville.

​“All the credit goes to them,” Booth said. “I’m just so proud of them. I don’t have many words right now.”
 
He found words. 
 
Credit for the “unsung” he said naming a couple like junior forward Maggie Cassady and the only senior, guard Chaney Browning. 
 
“I’m really glad that we could come back and beat them after they beat us by 3 points at their place,” Browning said. “It was tough, but I am just glad we pulled it out, for sure.”
 
The game was important, Browning said. For seeding in the upcoming District Tournament.
 
“Whoever we end up drawing, we’ll just do our best and battle like we always do.”
 
Next up for Edmonson County is away, Monday Feb. 12th in at 6 p.m. in Glasgow.