It was just not the way that the Lyon County Lyons and their fans had planned for things to go during their trip to the 2022 All A Classic state tournament. Lyon County saw a 12 point 4th quarter lead slip away and then missed on three attempts to either win or tie the game in the final five seconds as Breathitt County upset the Lyons 62-60 in the opening round of the All A Classic and prevented the Lyons from picking up their first-ever win in the event.
After outscoring the Bobcats 7-2 to open the final quarter, the Lyons appeared to have things going their way with a 56-44 lead. But the gritty team from Breathitt County would just not go away. Luke Bellamy hit a three to cut it to 56-47. The Bobcats then came up with a steal and layup to cut the lead to 56-49 and prompt a Lyon County timeout.
Do you remember the cartoons where a snowball starts rolling downhill and one of the characters in the cartoon simply can’t get out of the way of the rolling pack of snow? That was sort of what Breathitt County started with those five quick points.
Another steal and layup, followed by another Luke Bellamy three, and the 12 point lead had evaporated to just two points in a matter of less than two minutes. Christian Collins would get a rebound basket for the Bobcats to tie the score at 56-56 with 1:43 to go.
Lyon County’s Travis Perry momentarily slowed down the run with a three to put the Lyons in front 59-56. Breathitt County responded with three free throws and a basket to take a 61-59 lead with 16 seconds left.
Brady Shoulders was fouled on the rebound of a missed free throw, giving the Lyons a chance to tie the game. However, Shoulders missed the second free throw, leaving the Lyons down 61-60. Lyon County quickly fouled, sending the Bobcats to the line with 13 seconds left.
Again, the Bobcats left the door open missing the second free throw. Lyon County pushed the ball up court looking for a chance to win or tie. Gunnar Bingham missed a three from the left wing that would have put the Lyons in the lead. Jackson Shoulders grabbed the rebound and missed a shot. Shoulders would get a tip chance just ahead of the horn, but it would not fall either, leaving the Lyons and their fans in stunned silence and some in tears.
It never felt like the Lyons found their stride in the contest, even with the 12 point lead. Lyon County struggled in the early going as Breathitt County jumped out to a 16-8 lead. Behind Travis Perry, the Lyons finished the quarter on a 9-0 run, seven of the points scored by Perry, to take a 17-16 lead. The Lyons had gotten to the lead despite shooting just 38.9 percent in the first.
Perry kept his run going in the second quarter, scoring nine more points in the quarter as the Lyons took a 28-25 lead into the break. Again, the Lyons were able to extend the lead a bit despite shooting 29.4 percent in the quarter. Perry ended the half with 20 points and was seemingly a problem the Bobcats would not be able to solve.
Lyon County would have its best shooting quarter in the third, as they would connect on 53.8 percent of their shots and, in turn, they were able to take a 49-42 lead into the final quarter.
However, in what was a foretelling of what was coming, the Bobcats after being colder than the temp outside McBrayer Arena in the first half, shot 66.7 percent in the third quarter. And, when Lyon County lost its shooting eye in the final quarter, shooting less than 20 percent, Breathitt County connected on 58.3 percent of its shots in the final quarter and that would be enough to let the Bobcats sneak away with a two-point win.
The cold-shooting would be the Lyons’ undoing on the night. Three of their big guns, Perry, Jackson Shoulders, and Brady Shoulders, combined to go 19 of 56 from the field.
Travis Perry led Lyon County with 30 points. Jackson Shoulders and Jack Reddick added 10 points each.
Austin Sperry topped the scoring column for Breathitt County with 18 points. Christian Collins finished with 16, while Luke Bellamy added 15.
Lyon County drops to 13-5 with the loss. The Lyons are scheduled to return to action Saturday night at Henderson. If that game is not played, the Lyons would return to the court Monday night at home when they host University Heights.
FOR THE BOXSCORE OF THE GAME, CLICK HERE.
