Webster County Cross Country Wins Top Honors at Regional Meet; Whitsell Wins Regional Crown

by Deb Ryan, editor --

The Webster County cross country teams won top honors in the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) state cross country championships for the Class 2A Region 1 meet held at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky this past Saturday. 

Photo credit: Marilyn Ware @ Facebook

The boys’ squad, with a score of 22 points, nearly tripled Calloway’s score for the regional championship win, while the girls’ squad finished only three points behind Fort Campbell, to win second place, qualifying both teams to compete in the state meet next week in Lexington.

Webster County’s top five runners placed in the top ten of the regional 5,000 meter race. 
 
Webster County senior Iszack Whitsell finished in first place, winning the  boys’ regional crown with a comfortable time of 16:55.70, nearly a minute  ahead of second place runner Chase Oxford of Union County. However,  Union County did not have a full team, disqualifying Oxford for second place.
 
For the boys’ squad, Mitchell Shelton moved into second place winning  runner with a time of 18:03.80. Webster County runners Ronin Periard earned third place, Trevor Cole, sixth place and Preston Glazebrook, tenth place.
 
Boys' coach: Todd Whitsell 
Boys running:  

Iszack Whitsell, Mitchell Shelton, Ronin Periard, Trevor Cole, Preston Glazebrook, Robert Daughtery  and Nolan Petit
 

Photo credit: Marilyn Ware @Facebook

For the girls’ squad, Ali Cherry was Webster’s number four runner, taking fourth place at 21:43.10. Hadley Mitchell placed fifth at 21:51.20, with Kaile Branson clocking in at 22:03.70 for seventh place.  

Girls' coach: Brandye Whitsell
Girls running:   

Ali Cherry, Hadley Mitchell, Chandler Cole, Kaile Branson, Paige Tapp, Hannah Pritchett and  Colleen Glazebrook
 

For more information about Kentucky High School cross country teams, see:

Kentucky Track and Field State Sports Association

KYTrackXC, a milesplit.us affiliate

Kentucky High School Athletics Association

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Lady Trojans Pull Out Fourth Quarter Comeback

by Deb Ryan --
Extending the team's season with a second tournament game that was a thriller for Lady Trojan history , the Webster girls recovered from a nine-point trail, at the end of the third quarter, to win the Second Region match up with a four-point lead. Thursday night's final score - Webster County, 48, Caldwell County, 44.

Game Day

Maddie Duncan tweeted earlier on Thursday, "Game day," and indeed it was a game to be remembered. Tipping off with Townsend, Edens, McNary, Papineau and Herrera, Webster got its first tie of the game, 6-6, into the first quarter. Caldwell then took the lead and the first quarter ended 13-8 in the Lady Tigers favor.

Going without a field goal for almost eight minutes, Webster came back briefly to trim the deficit at 21-15, but Caldwell again led at the end of the half with a score of 23-18. Herrera got foul number three in the third quarter and the Lady Tigers made baskets back-to-back to end the quarter in a 35-27 lead.


Fourth Quarter Shift


Trimming Caldwell's lead to six points, early on in the fourth quarter, Kolbi Edens scored her 11th game point. Webster then tied up the game a second time, 35-35, with two free throws. 

Both teams went back-and-forth at the free-throw line. McKenzie Ames fouled out and a Caldwell team player was injured. Caldwell makes no field goals in the fourth quarter, but temporarily the Lady Tigers still hang on to the lead.

With 37 seconds left, Webster's girls came back for the fight with McNary's fastbreak basket and at four seconds left, one free throw in by Keeney.

The Gleaner's sportswriter, Kevin Patton, tweets, "Webster may pull this one out."

And the WC team did just that. Kristen Keeney drops in the last free throw, finishing off the game with a four-point WIN.

The Lady Trojans advance to play University Heights in the semifinals on Monday night, March 4, 2013.

After Game Tweets

Maddie Duncan - "WCLT's still alive!"

Coach Parker McCalister - "Proud of #WCLT. Nothing easy tournament time! I don't care what anybody thinks! Defense wins games! 0 FG allowed in 4th quarter! #heart"

Coach John Ashby - "Survive & advance. Nothing will be easy anymore. Really proud of the fight we showed in the 4th. Quest continues Monday for #laddersandnets"

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Lady Trojans Win in Double Overtime: Thriller History Moments for WC

by Deb Ryan --

From a game that looked to be sealed at the free-throw line, to a double overtime WIN, Webster County girls notched up a 64-59 breathtaking final score lead to move them on to play Henderson County in the sixth district championships at Union County on Wednesday, February 20, at 7 p.m.

Game Highlights 

Playback: With coach Parker McCalister starting the same all season five-member team (Papineau, Herrera, Edens, McNary and Townsend) for the Trojan beginning lineup, the game is underway. Webster County comes into the district games with a 21-4 season, Union County a 9-16.  

Just after tip off, Mariah Herrera and Kolbi Edens chalk up a lead score of 5-0 for WC right away. Union County calls for an early timeout. 

With a 9-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, WC’s momentum is strong. Union gets a 1–point lead during the first half, but at halftime, it’s Webster 17, Union 14.

Momentum shifts in the third quarter. Webster makes a good start, and then Union County begins to dominate on the floor, outrebounding Webster. End of third, Union leads by only 1 point, 31-30.

Webster gets back in the lead early on of the last quarter, 33-31. Union comes back strong, but only has WC holding with a 1-point lead at 46-45 and 42 seconds remaining in the game. 

Webster makes one of two free throws. Game is tied, 46-46. Union goes to the line and both free throws are in. Union is ahead 48-46.

It’s a 3-pointer miss by WC, so Union goes to the line. One free throw is in. Now there is less than 14 seconds to go.

Can you believe it? Amazing! Webster’s Maddie Duncan makes her first basket of the game, a 3-pointer that just beats the buzzer! Game is tied 49-49. Overtime is on.

Overtime begins and Union gains back the lead. Webster ties it up 52-52. Union leads 54-53. Webster leads again 55-54. Union goes for a timeout and a FOUL is called. Union goes to the line, gets ½. Score is 55-55.

Webster’s ball, but it’s a miss. OT ends, another tie, 55-55! 

Second overtime opens with a 3-pointer from Webster and two completion free throws, to lead 59-55. Bailey Townsend ups the score with two more free throws to a 61-57 lead for Webster. Union gets a basket, now WC leads by two at 61-59. Timeout is called.

WC plays keep away after the timeout, only 35 seconds left. Another timeout is called. WC goes to the line, gets ½. Union misses and Webster rebounds. It’s now a 3-point game. Bailey Townsend gets ½ at the line.

The buZZzzer sounds. Lady Trojans WIN 64-59!!!

Note of thanks: I used Mike Stunson’s, Madisonville’s Messenger sports’ reporter, Twitter feeds for helpful information in this playback recap. Look for complete stats and a full story in the Madisonville Messenger on Tuesday. 

Thanks Mike. You made me feel as if I was at the game sitting on the bleachers, feeling each thrilling moment in person. You inspired me to make a first go at reporting on sports for a remembrance in Traveling Webster County, Kentucky’s (TWCKY) documented history.

More about the game from the Courier Press/Henderson Gleaner 

"The Lady Trojans are a lot like the Lady Colonels. They're young and quick... "- Mitchell Stinson  bit.ly/XLbJ0L
— Traveling Web Co KY (@TravelingWCKY) February 19, 2013

Mike Stunson from the Messenger (on Storify)

by Deb Ryan, TWCKY founder

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