Lyon County’s regional tournament loss to Hopkinsville last season might have been 11 months ago, but the Lyons remembered it well.
In a battle of what is largely considered to be the top two teams in the 2nd Region this season, Lyon seized control early and ran past Hoptown 82-56 Friday night at Jason White Gymnasium in Eddyville.
Lyon (19-5) is rated No. 1 in the region according to the KHSAA RPI. If anyone questioned that before Friday, the Lyons left little doubt by routing the No. 2 team in the RPI.
Sophomore Travis Perry did not start on Senior Night for the Lyons, but put up a quick five points when he did get in to help Lyon go up 12-5 after one quarter.
By halftime, Perry had 19 points and Lyon headed to the locker room with a 35-15 advantage.
Hopkinsville (16-5) could never make a run at the Lyons in the second half.
Instead, Lyon outscored the Tigers 28-21 in the third period to extend the margin to 63-36.
The Lyons led by as much as 31 points in the second half.
Perry totaled a game-high 30 points. Senior Jackson Shoulders added 20 points to the Lyon total. Another senior, Nick Whalin, finished with 12.
Hoptown got 14 points from Bubba Leavell and 12 from KC Cabiness.
Lyon fell to Hopkinsville 58-56 in the first round of last year’s 2nd Region tournament.
Both teams return to Jason White Gym for action on Saturday in the Akridge Farm Supply Ace Jam. Hopkinsville will take on Evansville Christian at noon while Lyon faces No. 9-ranked Bowling Green at 6 p.m.
Hopkinsville 5 10 21 20—56
Lyon County 12 23 28 19—82
Hopkinsville (16-5) — Leavell 14, Cabiness 12, Mercer 9, Williams 8, Smith 6, Johnson 5, White 2.
Lyon County (19-5) — Perry 30, J. Shoulders 20, Whalin 12, B. Shoulders 8, Reddick 5, Bingham 4, Kirk 2, Radivonyk 1.
