The Caldwell County Tigers built a big, early lead over visiting Lyon County on Thursday night, before blowing the game open in the third quarter and going on to an 81-51 victory.
The Tigers avenge an 11-point opening-night loss to the Lyons, improving to 13-7 overall. Lyon County drops its second in three games to slip to 13-8 on the year.
After a 3-pointer by Cayden Fraliex, the Tigers led 7-0, before the Lyons scored the next 5. From there, the Tigers closed the quarter on an 18-4 run, powered by 12 points from Derrin Boyd.
Jackson Shoulders scored 7 points over the first 4 minutes of the second quarter, capped by a 3-point play to pull the Lyons to within 7 at 29-22. With the Tigers up 10 with 1:10 left in the half, Tripp Branch hit 1 of 2 free throws and the Tigers pulled down the rebound, leading to a Fraliex 3-point play and a 40-26 Caldwell advantage.
The Tigers continued to build the lead after the break, taking their first 20-point advantage on a basket by Davis off an assist from Boyd with 2:26 left in the third. Fraliex knocked down two 3-pointers in the last 2 minutes of the quarter, and the Tigers held a commanding 61-39 lead heading into the fourth.
A Boyd steal and basket stretched the margin to 27 with just over 5 minutes left to play, and both teams pulled their starters a short time later.
Boyd was one of five Tigers in double figures, finishing with 20. Fraliex had 17, followed by John Davis with 14, and Branch and Cole Smiley with 10 each.
Travis Perry led the Lyons with 20, followed by Gabe Board with 10 and Shoulders with 7.
