Reaching the All A Classic state tournament has not been an “uncommon” thing for the Lyon County Lady Lyons over the last few seasons. With their All A regional championship this season, the Lady Lyons have now been in the All A state tournament three of the last five seasons.
Interestingly enough, those appearances have all been in the even-numbered years of 2018, 2020, and 2022. The two previous appearances for Lyon County came in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007.
What has been harder to come by are wins at the All A state tournament. The past two trips to Richmond for the Lady Lyons have both ended in the opening round of play.
In 2018, the Lady Lyons fell to Williamsburg 46-32. The rims felt like they had lids on them that day for the Lady Lyons, as they connected on only 23.1-percent of their shots from the field.
The 2020 tournament saw West Carter use a big second quarter to get past the Lady Lyons 64-40. That was another cold shooting trip for the Lady Lyons as they hit 36.4-percent for the game.
Six Lady Lyons have made the trip before. Calista Collins, Rose Smith, and Ella Defew played in both the 2018 and 2020 tournaments. Hadlie Butler, Lexi Holland, and Gracen Wynn were on the roster in 2020. Wynn will not get to play next week due to injury.
One thing the Lady Lyons would like to do is recapture a bit of the magic from 15 years ago.
The 2007 All A Classic saw the Lady Lyons get on a run and reach the semifinal round of play.
That Lyon County team, anchored by Olivia Akridge, Allison Mussato, Abbey McLeod, Hayley Parrent, and Kayln Carter opened the tournament by blasting Kentucky Country Day 58-35.
In the quarterfinals, the Lady Lyons came from behind to get by Cumberland County 63-59.
The semifinals in 2007 pitted Lyon County against Lexington Christian. LCA used a 30 point third quarter to take control of the game on their way to an 83-63 win. Allison Mussato and Abbey McLeod combined to score 42 points for the Lady Lyons in the contest. Both players would make the All-Tournament team.
That team would finish the season as 5th District champs with a record of 19-11.
