By Sam Gormley, Play-By-Play Announcer/Local Sports– special thanks for permission to print this article
(6-10-26) Edmonson County High School will forfeit its regular-season boys basketball matchups against Grayson County at all levels during the 2026/27 season, marking the first time the schools will not meet in the regular season since 1979-80.
They have met at least twice in every calendar year since the turn of the century.
Edmonson County Superintendent Brian Alexander communicated the decision to both Grayson County and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) last week.
Braden Wright, an incoming senior, and Jonah Massey, an incoming junior, enrolled at Grayson County last week. The duo combined to average 20.5 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game for the Wildcats, who lost in the 12th District semifinals. The pair would have been Edmonson County’s leading returning scorers.
Alexander said in the email obtained by K105 :
“This is 100% my decision. It has come to my attention that two of our returning varsity basketball players have transferred to Grayson County. We received a request for records, and I have received multiple social media reports that they intend to play for Grayson County in varsity boys’ basketball next year.”
Alexander specifically spoke to the recent history between the two schools that hasn’t been without fireworks.
“In the past several years, there have been multiple ejections in our games, which has been one of the hottest rivalries in Kentucky’s boys’ basketball. However, these recent transfers have taken this to another level, and I will not put my school and my school district in a position where something could happen at a basketball game that will cause Edmonson County to be in a negative light.”
There have been two player ejections during Grayson County-Edmonson County games over the last three seasons, one involving each school.
Rivalry History
The two teams have played 107 times in boys basketball, with Grayson County leading the all-time series 75-32.
The rivalry intensified in the mid-1970s when Bowman Davenport left Grayson County after one season and was hired at Edmonson County, where he immediately led the Wildcats to the 1976 KHSAA State Championship.
The football matchup between the two schools, colloquially known as the “Tobacco Bowl,” is one of the better rivalries in the Commonwealth. They have played every year except for once in the 1980s and during the 2020 season.
During the 2023 12th District tournament, there was a stoppage in play where a Grayson County fan attempted to enter the court and approach Edmonson County’s head coach at the time. Multiple fans from both fan bases were ejected during this moment.
Grayson County’s Response
The Cougars are coming off their best season in program history following an appearance in the KHSAA Final Four; the furthest the team had ever made it.
Grayson County head coach Travis Johnston knows the rivalry as well as anyone, serving as a head coach for the last 22 matchups and serving as a student-athlete in others.
Johnston told K105 –
“It’s unfortunate because it’s such a fun game for our players and fans. However, this is something that’s out of our control, so we are to move forward. We are 2-0 in district now, and we have very high expectations for this season, so our focus is 100% on that and our team’s goals.”
KHSAA Review
KHSAA Bylaw 22 reads as: “The Commissioner shall determine the default forfeit fee for any school failing to play a seeded district game (for any reason) or failing to play a district football game for a team that has previously opted to participate in postseason playoffs.”
K105 has reached out to KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett for clarification on this.
As of publication, the KHSAA has not announced whether any penalty or forfeiture fee will be assessed.
Edmonson County has said that they will play the Cougars in other sports and if the two teams are slated to match up in the district tournament, they will play then too.
By Sam Gormley, Play-By-Play Announcer/Local Sports
RELATED:
- Grayson-Edmonson boys’ basketball series put on hold
- Alexander Says Edmonson, Grayson Boys’ Basketball Will Not Play Each Other Next Season
Two games from this past season…
Grayson County Cougar Basketball vs. Edmonson County
Grayson County Cougar Basketball vs. Edmonson County
Stateline Sports Network 