After building a huge first-quarter advantage over hosts Crittenden County on Friday night, the Lyon County boys’ basketball team held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game on the way to a 75-50 5th-District victory. The Lyons improve to 3-2, 2-0 in district play, while the Rockets remain winless at 0-4, 0-2 in the district.
The Lyons held the Rockets scoreless over the first three and a half minutes, building a 13-2 advantage. Jackson Shoulders poured in 13 first-quarter points, and the Lyons closed on an 11-3 run to lead 24-7.
Back-to-back Kade Blackburn 3-pointers stretched the margin to 22 points with 5:20 left in the first half, but the Rockets responded with a 7-point spurt to force a Lyon County timeout. However, Nick Whalin scored at the buzzer off one of Travis Perry’s 10 assists to restore the 17-point cushion.
Crittenden County opened the third quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers by Hunter Boone and Sawyer Towery to trim the lead to 11, but Perry responded with 5 straight for the Lyons. A Trey Hawkins 3 at the buzzer sent Lyon into the final frame up 55-37.
Perry started the fourth with four-straight free throws, part of a perfect 8-8 effort over the final 8:00. The last of Blackburn’s five 3-pointers again established a 20-point lead with 4:15 to play, and the Lyons cruised in from there.
Perry, the Lyons’ precocious, 7th-grade point guard, led all scorers with 18 points, followed by Blackburn and Shoulders with 17 each. Shoulders also posted a team-high 9 rebounds. Preston Turley finished with 14 for the Rockets, followed by Mott with 12.
Lyon County has a quick turnaround with a game on Saturday against Dawson Springs (2-2) at the Messenger Tip-Off Classic at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
