No one can accuse Lyon County of backing into the 2nd Region championship.
The Lyons, rated No. 1 in the region by the KHSAA RPI, had to go through No. 3 Madisonville-North Hopkins and No. 2 Hopkinsville — the latter on its own home floor — to claim its first regional championship in 71 years
Hoptown (23-7) was up to the challenge early in Saturday afternoon’s championship game at Tiger Gym. But in the end, sophomore wunderkind Travis Perry scored a career-high 44 points to help send Lyon County to Rupp Arena with an 87-69 victory over the Tigers.
Lyon (28-6) will play the 5th Region winner in the first round of the 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 17, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time in Lexington.
The Lyons last won the regional title in 1951 — a run that included wins over Todd County, Charleston and Madisonville.
This year, Lyon opened the regional tournament with a win over Christian County before playing arguably its two best games of the season in the semifinals and final — again, against the best the 2nd Region had to offer.
Lyon and Hopkinsville put on a show early in the championship matchup.
Both teams’ offenses were unconscious — or had no conscience — in the first half.
The Lyons and Tigers battled back and forth, with Lyon leading 23-22 after one quarter, but Hoptown gaining the upper hand several times in the second period.
However, a late burst got Lyon to halftime with a 47-41 advantage.
The Lyons built on that after the break, with back-to-back buckets by Perry pushing the margin to double figures, putting Lyon up 59-47 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
Hopkinsville was within 62-54 entering the final frame, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Jack Reddick and Perry were backbreakers. That quickly extended the difference to 68-54.
A steal and layup by Brady Shoulders, then another driving bucket by Perry made it 72-54 and had Lyon sitting pretty with 5:48 remaining in the contest.
Hopkinsville simply could not put together a run to put any pressure on Lyon late.
Instead, the Lyons salted the game away at the free throw stripe, taking its biggest lead of the contest at 86-63 following two Perry free throws with 1:39 to play.
Perry was 12-for-12 at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and finished 18-of-19 at the line in the contest. He also had four 3-pointers as part of his 44-point performance.
Jackson Shoulders added 15 points, Reddick finished with 14 and Brady Shoulders had 10 for the Lyons.
Hoptown got 27 points from Antonio Williams, including four 3-pointers. Kemarion Smith added 18 and K.C. Cabiness had 11.
Lyon will carry a nine-game winning streak to the Sweet 16. The Lyons have won 15 of their last 16 games.
Lyon County 23 24 15 25 — 87
Hopkinsville 22 19 13 15 — 69
Lyon County (28-6) — Perry 44, J. Shoulders 15, Reddick 14, B. Shoulders 10, Whalin 4.
Hopkinsville (23-7) — Williams 27, Smith 18, Cabiness 11, Leavell 4, Manning 4, Jackson 3.
