Lyon County was eight minutes away from extending the 5th District’s top-seed curse with a 10-point lead over Crittenden County. However, the Lady Rockets had a hex of their own up their sleeve and rallied to shock the Lady Lyons 58-54 in overtime to claim the district title.
Crittenden is the first No. 1 seed to win the 5th District title since 2016, which was also Lyon County’s last district crown.
Lyon County led 32-20 at halftime and 40-30 after three quarters before Crittenden began reversing the jinx.
Taylor Guess scored 17 of Crittenden County’s 21 fourth quarter points. Held to just seven points through three quarters, the Lady Rocket junior was 8 of 12 from the field in the final frame.
Lyon led 46-39 on an Ella Defew bucket with 2:50 left. A couple of buckets by Guess cut the Lady Lyon lead to 46-43.
Down 48-43, 8th grader Anna Boone connected on a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to get Crittenden to within 48-46.
Calista Collins hit a pair of free throws with 38 seconds left for a 50-46 advantage. Guess connected on a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to get Crittenden to within 50-49.
Lyon made one of two free throws with 16 seconds left, but Guess drove the lane and hit the game-tying shot with eight seconds left. Lyon couldn’t get a shot off, and the game went to overtime.
Lyon never led in the overtime, shooting 1 of 5 from the field and 1 of 4 at the line in the extra period.
In outscoring Lyon 19-10 in the final three minutes and overtime, Crittenden County scored eight points off seven Lyon turnovers. For the game, Lyon turned the basketball over 22 times, including 14 in the second half. Crittenden had just six turnovers in 36 minutes.
Guess, who became the school’s all-time leading scorer in Monday’s semifinal win over Livingston Central, scored 28 points on 12 of 28 shooting. She added five rebounds and three assists.
Natalie Boone scored 13 points, and Anna Boone scored 12 points. Grace Driskill chipped in with five points and 10 rebounds.
Lilly Perry knocked down four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points for Lyon County. She also had seven rebounds. Defew scored 16 points, and Collins added 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The district championship is the seventh for Crittenden County, moving them into a tie with Trigg County and Livingston Central. Lyon County’s nine titles are the most in the district.
Crittenden County will host either Christian County, Hopkins County Central, or Webster County Monday in the first round of the region tournament.
Lyon County will travel to either Henderson County, Madisonville, or Hopkinsville Monday.
Lyon County 20 12 8 11 3– 54
Crittenden County 13 7 10 21 7– 58
Lyon County [16-14] – Perry 17, Defew 16, Smith 11, Collins 10
Crittenden County [22-7] – Guess 28, N. Boone 13, A. Boone 12, Driskill 5
