Lady Bears District Champions
PHOTO | Greg Moore
By Greg Moore
Banner Sports Editor
The BCHS Lady Bears relish the even years. In ‘22, ‘24, and now in ‘26, Coach Lexie Belcher has led her teams to reign as 12th District Champions. Butler County, who was winless against Grayson and Edmonson in regular season play, did the unthinkable (at least to orange and red wearing fans) by securing tournament wins in thrilling fashion, both come-from-behind victories over their district foes.
The Lady Cougars strolled into the Bear Cave for Monday’s opening night of the tournament to face the Lady Bears, who embraced the underdog mentality. A tight, low-scoring first half ended with a three-point splash by 8th grader Brielle Belcher, which put Butler County up 17-13 going into the third quarter of play.
The Lady Bears continued the momentum and pushed the margin out to 24-13 after an and-one by Ava Wilson and a freebie by Ann Marie Skaggs. However, a barrage of three-pointers by the Lady Cougars whittled that down, next to nothing going into the final period.
Grayson County, who had been called for only six fouls through three quarters, seemed poised to take control of the game when the Lady Bears committed four fouls in the first 75 seconds of the final quarter. With a 10-4 run, the visitors thrived ahead, 35-30, at the midway mark. But, the Lady Bears were not laying down on their home floor.
Belcher, who proved a difference-maker, calmly hit four straight from the charity stripe over the next minute to help even the score. Then, Wilson converted another and-one to take the lead with a couple minutes left before Carly Cardwell and Skaggs delivered victory-sealing free-throws.
Every rebound was a battle and this one is from early in the game. It shows Cardwell and Ava Wilson, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds in the championship, battling with Lady Cats senior Cariann Williams, who was held below her averages. PHOTO | Greg Moore
After punching their region ticket in the 43-40 hard-fought win, the Lady Bears welcomed the Lady Cats of Edmonson County, who had beat Trinity 66-49 in their opener, in the championship game on Thursday night. Like Grayson, the Lady Cats were 20-7 coming into the contest; plus, they had impressive 17 and 18-point wins over Butler during the regular season.
Cardwell, who had nine points and 12 rebounds in the first-round win, put the Lady Bears on the scoreboard before five seconds ticked off the clock. The blows were flying in the Cat/Bear fight from early on as the referees allowed them to play. The first period would settle with BC down by two, 14-12.
Edmonson’s Shelby Sowders kept getting downhill, but was not highly successful hitting contested shots with excellent rotation from the Lady Bears defense. Still, the Lady Cats built a small amount of momentum throughout the second before Maddie Jones knocked down a jumper from the elbow to pull Butler County within five, 25-20, going into the half.
After the break, Karrington Hunt picked up where Jones left off. The senior guard’s jumper and a couple Wilson free-throws lasted a good part of the third quarter. Down 12 with less than a minute, Wilson, who had been defended well, started to get going. Four straight from the junior and the Lady Bears trailed by eight heading into the final period.
Wilson, who had a double-double in both district tournament contests, continued attacking the heart of the Cats’ defense. Lady Cats’ center, Cariann Williams, who was limited to ten points, picked up a fourth foul as a result. Sowders followed suit. Near the four-minute mark, the point-guard would get her fifth. This sent the Lady Cats’ bench into a spiral.
With Edmonson’s primary ballhandlers out of the game, the Lady Bears’ trapping defense took full advantage of stealing the ball/forcing turnovers. If they fouled, more than likely, the Lady Cats missed. Whereas, the Lady Bears made their free-throws. It made the wave of red throughout the guests section sit in disgust. Even show it in other ways.
Three Lady Bears made All-Tournament. Skaggs, who went for ten points and 15 rebounds in the championship game, was recognized along with Wilson and Hunt. Cardwell and Wilson were named All-Season with Jones receiving the Academic Award.
Carly Cardwell, an All-District Season selection, shown here colliding with Shelby Sowders for the tough block/charge decision by the officials. There were many tough calls such as this in the Bear/Cat fight. Carly Cardwell, an All-District Season selection, shown here colliding with Shelby Sowders for the tough block/charge decision by the officials. There were many tough calls such as this in the Bear/Cat fight. PHOTO | Greg Moore
Butler County went 23/30 from the free throw line with Wilson (13/15) and Skaggs (6/7) leading the effort. The Lady Cats were horrible down the stretch as they only hit nine out of 21 for the entire game. After a Butler foul on a three-point attempt, Edmonson could have tied the game with only seconds left, but made only one of the three.
Grayson Co 6 7 12 15 40
Butler Co 4 13 9 17 43
Wilson 18, Cardwell 9, Skaggs 7,
Belcher 7, Hunt 2
Edmonson 14 11 11 9 45
Butler 12 8 8 21 49
Wilson 23, Skaggs 10, Cardwell 5,
Belcher 5, Hunt 4, Jones 2
