Rose Smith exploded for 20 second-half points as the Lyon County Lady Lyons rallied from a 5-point halftime deficit to upend the Christian County Lady Colonels 58-51 Saturday afternoon at Colonel Gym. Enjoying the win, however, was the farthest thing from the mind of the Lady Lyons after the game.
Lyon County junior Ella Defew was injured going for a rebound with 4:09 left to go in the game. Defew, who appeared to have hit her head on the floor, was initially taken to the locker room and then taken to an ambulance immediately after the game.
Players from both teams gathered around the center court circle joining together in a prayer for Defew.
The game was a close battle through the first half. There were two ties and three lead changes in the first quarter, as Christian County took a 13-12 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The first four baskets of the second quarter saw the lead change hands four times. The Lady Colonels appeared to be gaining the momentum as they closed the first half by scoring the final six points to go up 27-22 at the half. Christian County’s pressure led to some quick scoring opportunities and it appeared that the Lady Colonels were about to get rolling.
Then came the second half.
After trailing 27-22 at the break, the Lady Lyons controlled the second half of play. Lyon County was able to deal with Christian County’s pressure defense and Rose Smith owned the final sixteen minutes. Christian County was up 35-28 midway through the third quarter when Lyon County ripped off a 14-3 run to take a 42-38 lead at the end of the quarter. Smith scored the final ten points of the quarter for the Lady Lyons.
The Lady Colonels used a quick 5-1 spurt, keyed by Destinee Catlett-Watkins, to tie the game at 43-43 early in the final quarter. But Christian County could not get to the lead.
Calista Collins and Rose Smith combined to score six quick points to run the lead out to 49-43. The Lady Colonels could get no closer than four points the rest of the way, as Lyon County took home the seven-point win.
Down the stretch, the Lady Lyons handled the Christian County pressure defense, while the Lady Colonels lost their shooting eye and struggled to get the ball to go through the net.
Lyon County’s Rose Smith led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Calista Collins added 15. Lilly Perry also hit double figures with 12.
Mikayah Killebrew led Christian County with 17 points. Destinee Catlett-Watkins was the other Lady Colonel to reach double figures with 10.
Lyon County improves to 5-4 with their fourth straight win. The Lady Lyons head to Marion Monday night to take on Crittenden County.
Christian County drops to 3-5 on the year. The Lady Colonels are off until after Christmas when they will play in the Vanous Lloyd Christmas Tournament at Warren Central.
LCHS — 12 10 20 16 – 58
CCHS — 13 14 11 13 – 51
Lyon County (5-4) – Smith 24, Collins 15, Perry 12, Holland 6, Butler 1
Christian County (3-5) – Killebrew 17, Watkins 10, Bagwell 7, Day 7, Harris 5, Bridges 3, McGregor 2
