Williams Scores 33, Booth Wins 20, Lady Cats Defeat Visiting Lady Panthers in Final Home Game of 2023-24 Season

Edmonson County sophomore center Cariann Williams (30) finishes a steal and solo fast break with a layup off the glass against visiting Russellville Friday February 16 in Brownsville. Williams had a double-double and broke her own single scoring record with 33 points, and had 16 rebounds.

Joseph Barkoff, story and photos:
​It was a milestone night at Edmonson County High School Friday February 16 in Brownsville.
 
Out of the last 11 meetings between the Russellville Lady Panthers and the Edmonson County Lady Cats, it was the 10th defeat for Russellville with Edmonson County outscoring them 69-43.
 
It was win number 20 for Lady Cats head coach Jody Booth. An accomplishment only achieved nine other times. It is his first year as head coach.
 
Sophomore center Cariann Williams broke her own personal best game scoring achievement with 33 points, including 16 rebounds and a handful of blocks in her double-double night.
 
Williams was honored before the game for scoring 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
 
As well, the laundry list of Hall of Fame inductees and their family-sized shopping list of achievements disseminated at halftime, can be found on the Edmonson Voice sports page.
 
The Lady Cats drew first blood on the night and it took the Lady Panthers almost three minutes before they would score their first points on free throws. 
 
The Lady Panthers would not score again until 1:14 was left in the first quarter, but by then it was 15 to 4 in favor of the Lady Cats. 
 
Freshman point guard Shelby Sowders pulled in a rebound and put the ball back in off the glass with 10.4 seconds left in the first, and the quarter would end 17-4 in favor of the Lady Cats.
 
The second quarter was more of the same. The Lady Cats continued their aggressive play, leading by 23 points with 2:00 remaining in the first half, and as much as 27 points with less than a minute to play.
 
The Lady Cats took their 27-point lead into the half ahead of the Lady Panthers 37-10.

Edmonson County junior guard Jenna Cook (3) fights for a loose-ball rebound against visiting Russellville Friday February 16 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County freshman point guard Shelby Sowders (50) pulls up for a jumper against visiting Russellville Friday February 16 in Brownsville.

​In the second half, Russellville made some adjustments, but mostly tried to bully the Lady Cats bench while they were giving starters like Williams, Sowders, junior guard Jenna Cook, junior forward Julie Norris and senior guard Chaney Browning some time to rest with a comfortable lead.
 
It only worked to some degree, as the bench players gained their confidence, realizing perhaps, the starters were not going to save them. They began to help themselves.
 
Freshman guard Tayla Wilhite had 2 points and muscled in for three rebounds, junior forward Maggie Cassady sank a 3-pointer, and 7th grader Hayley Sanders added 2 points.
 
“The big message to tell the kids at halftime was, we can’t come out and create bad habits because we gotta finish the season next week against an Ohio County team at their place,” Edmonson County head coach Jody Booth said after the game on the Edmonson Voice Live broadcast. “And it’s gonna be a tough game.”
 
On the night, Cook had 11 points with 3 rebounds, Sowders scored 6 and hauled in 8, Norris scored 6 and grabbed 5 and Browning had 5 points and 5 rebounds.
 
Looking ahead to the district and regional tournaments he doesn’t want the bad habits to be carried over into final season play, he said.
 
Into the second half he wanted his girls to come out with energy, be there for teammates, do the right things, defensive rotations, moving the ball on offense and still being aggressive, Booth said.
 
“When you have a big lead it’s easy to let up a little bit,” Booth said.
 
He feels they did let up, to some degree, and feels they aren’t the first team to ever do it, but he also feels the girls kept at it and gave a good effort, he said.
 
Booth thinks his team continues to improve and hopes to continue to get better “until the last day,” he said. 
 
“I hope it’s a while from now,” Booth said.
 
Booth said he knows Williams has room to improve and knows she will put the extra time on to increase the areas she needs to work on.
 
“It’s a huge accomplishment for her to reach those milestones,” Booth said. “Super proud of her. I’m Super proud to be her coach. It’s a blessing to be her coach.”

Edmonson County head coach Jody Booth speaks to his team during a timeout against visiting Russellville Friday February 16 in Brownsville.

The final game of the 2023-24 season for the Wildcats is on the road at Ohio County Thursday Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Hartford. Stay tuned to the Edmonson Voice for post season coverage.