In a game filled with fouls from beginning to end, the Lyon County Lady Lyons rallied in the 4th quarter and hit key free throws in the final moments to take a 58-52 win over Paducah Tilghman Saturday afternoon in Eddyville. The win broke a short two-game losing streak for the Lady Lyons.
The two teams combined for 55 fouls in the contest, 27 in the first half and 28 more in the second half. With those foul numbers, the teams also combined to shoot 78 free throws for the game.
The game was close and physical from the very beginning. The first quarter saw four lead changes and two ties, the last of those coming as the quarter ended at 11-11. Gracen Wynn got off to a big start for the Lady Lyons with seven points in the quarter.
With the fouls mounting, the second quarter almost turned out to be a free throw shooting contest. The two teams combined for just four field goals in the second eight minutes. Lyon County scored 11 of their 14 points at the line in the second as the Lady Lyons worked their way out to a 25-19 halftime lead.
Wynn played a big part in Lyon County taking the lead at the break, finishing the first half with 12 points. Sophomore Diamond Gray did her best to keel the Lady Blue Tornado in the game, scoring 8 points, and causing havoc with her defensive pressure out front.
With Calista Collins taking over down in the paint, the Lady Lyons looked to be about ready to put the game away in the third quarter. Lyon County pushed the lead out to eight points at 32-24 and appeared to have Tilghman tottering on the brink.
However, with Diamond Gray and Jaaliyah Biggers picking up the pace, Tilghman outscored the Lady Lyons 18-7 over the remainder of the quarter to take a 42-39 lead going into the final eight minutes of the contest.
Paducah Tilghman took its biggest lead of the afternoon on a basket by Biggers to open the 4th quarter at 44-39.
Lyon County, using strong rebounding and defensive pressure to create turnovers, then got their rally going. An 11-4 run saw the Lady Lyons move back in front at 50-48. A lead they would not give up again.
The two teams went back and forth over the next couple of minutes, with Lyon County taking a 54-52 lead into the final seconds of the contest. With Paducah Tilghman now having to foul to try and pull out the win, Kenttavia Matthews knocked down four of four at the line to seal the 58-52 win for Lyon County.
The foul problems took their toll on both teams down the stretch. Paducah Tilghman lost four players to fouls, while Calista Collins fouled out for Lyon County. Additionally, Lyon County’s defense would end up forcing the Lady Blue Tornado into 37 turnovers on the afternoon.
The Lady Lyons were led by Calista Collins with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Gracen Wynn was the other Lady Lyon to reach double figures with 14.
Diamond Gray had 15 points for Tilghman but fouled out late in the 3rd quarter. Jaaliyah Biggers added 14 for the Lady Blue Tornado.
The Lady Lyons improve to 4-3 with the win and will return to action Monday at Livingston Central.
Paducah Tilghman drops to 2-4.
PTHS — 11 8 23 10 – 52
LCHS — 11 14 14 19 – 58
Paducah Tilghman (2-4) – Gray 15, Biggers 14, Garland 8, Reed 8, Wurth 3, Warren 2, Smith 2
Lyon County (4-3) – Collins 19, Wynn 14, Defew 9, Matthews 7, Perry 6, Butler 3
