The Lyon County Lyons decided it was time to make a little history Tuesday night. Brady Shoulders scored driving baskets on back-to-back possessions to bring the Lyons from behind in the final minutes and give them the lead for good in a 71-66 road win at Madisonville-North Hopkins. The win was the first for the Lyons over the Maroons since January 2010 and just the second win in the last 24 seasons.
Shoulders’ big baskets came after Lyon County saw the Maroons rebound from a 12 point deficit early in the second half to take a 64-61 lead in the waning minutes of the game.
Lyon County got a free throw from Jackson Shoulders, the two baskets from Brady Shoulders, and two big free throws from Jack Reddick to take a 68-64 lead. The Lyons would add three more free throws coming down to the wire to secure the win.
The game gave indication early on that it would likely come down to the wire. Madisonville jumped out to a 14-9 lead behind the play of Kale Gaither and Zach Tow. Lyon County battled back, scoring the final six points of the quarter to take a 15-14 lead.
The Lyons kept rolling as the second quarter got underway, outscoring Madisonville 7-2 to extend the lead to 22-16. The lead would reach as much as 10 points at 31-21 before Lyon County went to the locker room holding a 36-27 lead.
The Lyon County lead would reach 43-31 and it appeared the Lyons were ready to put the Maroons away. But Kale Gaither, Zach Tow, and the rest of the Maroons were not quite ready to let that happen. Madisonville increased the defensive pressure and it began to impact the Lyon County shooting and caused the Lyons issues with ball security. Madisonville would outscore Lyon County 19-8 over the rest of the quarter to cut the margin to 51-50 heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter would have been fitting of a tournament setting with four ties and nine lead changes before the final lead change that gave the win to Lyon County.
Travis Perry led four Lyons in double figures with 20. Brady Shoulders added 14 points. Jack Reddick finished with 12, while Jackson Shoulders had 11.
Madisonville’s Kale Gaither was the leading scorer in the game with 23 points. Zach Tow had 21 for the Maroons.
Lyon County moves to 11-4 with the win, which was the Lyons’ 6th straight.
Madisonville drops to 13-6.
LCHS — 15 21 15 20 – 71
MNHHS — 14 13 23 16 – 66
Lyon County (11-4) – Perry 20, B. Shoulders 14, Reddick 12, J. Shoulders 11, Bingham 8, Whalin 6
Madisonville-North Hopkins (13-6) – Gaither 23, Tow 21, Gaines 12, Frazier 4, McAdoo 2, Cheirs 2, Martin 2
