After picking up their first win over University Heights in twelve years during last year’s 2nd Region All A Classic, the Lyon County Lyons made it two straight over the Blazers Monday night in Eddyville. After building a double-digit lead in the third quarter, the Lyons fended off a Blazer rally and then pulled out late to a 71-57 win.
The Lyons were able to get the win despite the Blazers doing a pretty good job clamping down on Lyon County leading scorer Travis Perry. With Gavin Grubbs spending a big part of his night on defense chasing Perry around the court, the Blazers limited Perry to just two points in the first half. Still, the Lyons led 28-19 going into the break thanks to big first-half efforts from Brady Shoulders and Gunnar Bingham.
Perry would have a bit more success in the second half. He finished the game with 12 points, still well below his season average. The problem for the Blazers in the second half was that they had trouble reining in Jackson Shoulders and Jack Reddick over the final sixteen minutes.
The nine-point deficit the Blazers faced at the half could have been much smaller had it not been for their struggles in the paint. UHA missed nine shots in the lane in the opening half, leaving enough opportunities on the table that they could have well been in the lead at the break.
Early on in the second half, it looked like the Lyons had found their stride and were about to put the game away. One could have forgiven the Lyons for being a little leg weary at the start of the game from travel, after playing Thursday in Richmond, driving home Friday, then loading up and going to Henderson Saturday, before taking on UHA Monday night.
After leading 28-19 at the half, the Lyons extended the lead to 37-25 midway through the third. But back came the Blazers. With Gavin Grubbs leading the charge, UHA would cut the lead in half at 46-40 as the third quarter ended. The Blazers also got big plays from Cameron Brown, Lemar Northington, and Trevonne Wallace to get them right back in the thick of things.
The rally continued into the 4th quarter as the Blazers on three different occasions cut the lead to just three points. But they could get no closer. Gunnar Bingham and Jack Reddick came up with some key outside shooting and Jackson Shoulders knocked down some big late free throws as the Lyons pulled back out for the 14 point win.
Jackson Shoulders led all scorers in the game with 19 points. Jack Reddick added 15. Travis Perry ended the night with 12 points, while Brady Shoulders had 10, all in the first half.
UHA was led by Gavin Grubbs with 17. Despite spending a chunk of the game in foul trouble, Cameron Brown ended up with 12 points for the Blazers.
Lyon County improves to 15-5, while UHA falls to 7-11.
UHA — 11 8 21 17 – 59
LCHS — 16 12 18 25 – 71
University Heights (7-11) – Grubbs 17, C.Brown 12, Quarles 8, Wallace 7, L.Northington 7, J.Brown 2, Thomas 2, B.Northington 2
Lyon County (15-5) – J.Shoulders 19, Reddick 15, Perry 12, B.Shoulders 10, Bingham 8, Whalin 4, Kirk 3
