YSE File Photo
For most of a half, the Lyon County Lyons were on the verge of sending a big message to basketball teams across the state. They had limited Ashland Blazer’s vaunted 3-point attack and led the Tomcats by 18 points.
It appeared that the Lyons were on the verge of moving on to the championship bracket of the King of the Bluegrass and moving up the prestige ladder significantly in the state.
Even after Ashland scored the last six points of the half, the Lyons still held a 12 point lead going into the locker room. And, the Tomcats had only knocked down 3 of 15 threes. That’s 3 of 15.
The reason we stress the 3 of 15 from the first half, is that the Tomcats shot a little better the second half. Okay, they shot a lot better the second half. Heck, let’s just say it, Ashland shot the lights out and the Lyons out of the championship bracket in the second half, as the Tomcats burned the nets off the rims at Fairdale High School, connecting on 15 of 21 from behind the arc, as they came from behind to upend the Lyons 87-81 in an opening round game of the legendary holiday tourney in Jefferson County.
It’s not that the Lyons went stone cold, or committed massive numbers of turnovers, Ashland just got that hot, and there didn’t seem to be much that the Lyons could do to cool em off again.
Ashland Blazer had entered the game having made 52 3-point shots over their first six games. And the Tomcats, who reached the final four of the Sweet 16 last season, needed every one of their made threes to fend off a great effort from the team from Eddyville.
The Lyons set the tone for this one early, taking a 21-13 lead after the opening quarter. That lead, which would grow to as many as 18, would be 38-26 as the two teams went into the locker room at the break.
Even with Ashland Blazer going into “en fuego” mode in the second half, Lyon County would still be holding a 53-50 lead after the third quarter.
But the shots from behind the arc would not stop falling for the Tomcats. Early in the 4th quarter, Cole Villers knocked down a three to tie the game at 55-55. The Lyons continued to hang tough, as the game was tied 65-65 with under four minutes to go.
In the end, the momentum had swung to the Tomcats bench, and Ashland would edge their way out to the six point win.
Ethan Sellars led the Tomcats in scoring with 25 points, including 7 made three-point baskets. Cole Villers added 24 points and Colin Porter finished with 19 points and 12 assists.
Lyon County was led by Travis Perry, who ended the night with 32 points and 8 assists. Jackson Shoulders added 20 points and 8 rebounds for the Lyons. Jack Reddick chipped in with 16.
The Lyons now move to the consolation bracket of the King of the Bluegrass, where they will take on Belfry Sunday night at 8pm central.
For the boxscore of the game: CLICK HERE
