Coming off a big homecourt win over Hopkinsville on Friday night, the Lyon County Lyons were looking for the chance to make a statewide statement Saturday night as they hosted the Bowling Green Purples in the Akridge Ace Jam at Lyon County High School. However, the B&B combination for Bowling Green had other plans for their matchup.
The Purples’ combination of guards Turner Buttry and Deuce Bailey combined to score 32 second-half points as the Purples held off a pair of Lyon County rallies to take an 85-77 win. It wasn’t only the points they had in the second, but when and how they came. It seemed as if every time the Lyons were ready to make a move either Buttry drained a three or Bailey found his way down the lane to the basket.
Bowling Green started like they were ready to make short work of the night. With Turner Buttry and Makayelus Wardlow hot from the outside, the Purples ran out to a 20-12 first quarter lead.
But, as they have shown all season, the Lyons are a resilient bunch. After trailing most of the second quarter by at least 8 points, paced by Travis Perry and Jackson Shoulders, Lyon County ripped off a 12-3 run to close out the first half to pull within 38-36 at the break.
The Lyon County comeback continued coming out of the break. The Lyons would pull even with the Purples at 46-46, and it appeared that all the momentum was on the sideline with the Lyons. But that momentum would be short-lived.
A Wardlow 3, followed by a Buttry 3, and then a long Wardlow 2, and suddenly a tie game turned into an 8 point deficit for the Lyons. The lead would be back to double digits at 65-55 when the third quarter ended.
Showing he has some outside range in addition to his power game, Jackson Shoulders knocked down three second-half threes to help give the Lyons one last chance to get back in the game. Shoulders’ threes ignited a rally that would draw the Lyons to within five at 69-64, but that would be as close as they could get in the final minutes. Five missed free throws and some rushed shots forced by the Bowling Green defense would diffuse the rally.
Travis Perry finished the night with 28 points for the Lyons, including four made shots from behind the arc. Jackson Shoulders powered his way to 21 points. Brady Shoulders also hit double figures with 13.
Turner Buttry led the Purples with 28 points. Buttry was deadly from behind the 3-point line, knocking down six shots. Makayelus Wardlow added 17 points. Deuce Bailey finished the night with 16 points, 15 of them coming in the second half of play.
The loss drops Lyon County to 19-6 on the year. The Lyons get back to action Tuesday when they host Dawson Springs.
BGHS — 20 18 27 20 – 85
LCHS — 12 24 19 22 – 77
Bowling Green (22-4) – Buttry 28, Wardlow 17, Bailey 16, Starks 14, Ritter 8
Lyon County (19-6) – Perry 28, J.Shoulders 21, B.Shoulders 13, Reddick 9, Whalin 2, Gilbert 2, Bingham 1
One Response
No excuses, but, the Lyons just played 5 games in 6 days, one was overtime late Friday night. Did BG have the same grueling schedule?
No excuses , just thinking how things might have been if schedule was equal .
Having said that…the Lyons are all Supermen.