Sometimes when you are at the top of the hill, you have to take another team’s best shot and then see how you respond. Such was the case for the Lyon County Lyons Saturday night. Caldwell County came rolling into Eddyville and hit the Lyons right between the eyes.
However, the defending 2nd Region champions gave a strong indication that they are not quite ready to give up their spot at the top just yet without a fight. After trailing early, the Lyons came up with a 40-point turnaround and rolled past the Tigers 91-63.
Caldwell County came out hot from the field and gave the Lyon issues with their defensive pressure. The Tigers jumped out to an 11-2 lead, which later grew to 19-7, generating some anxiety among the Lyon County fans and bringing the Tigers fans to their feet. But the defending champs then began to show why they are one of the teams again this year with a chance to earn the trip back to Rupp.
With Brady Shoulders getting into quick foul trouble, Travis Perry and Jack Reddick pulled the Lyons quickly back into the game. Lyon County ended the first quarter on a 17-6 run to pull within 25-24 after one.
JayDarius Wilson had a strong start for the Tigers, scoring 14 points in the first quarter of play. Still, despite the blazing start for Caldwell County, you could feel the momentum shift as the opening quarter ended.
Shots began to stop falling for Caldwell County and turnovers began to increase leading to easy baskets for the Lyons. Perry and Reddick continued their hot finish from the first quarter and the Lyons opened the second quarter on an 18-2 run to take a 42-27 lead. In just a matter of a little over eight minutes, there had been a 27-point swing in the game.
Lyon County had a 45-30 lead as the first half came to an end. They had managed to get to that lead without one of the big three scoring a single point in the first 16 minutes.
Caldwell County continued to fight and hang tough as the second half started. One of the problems now for the Tigers was that Brady Shoulders, after not scoring in the first half, joined in with Perry and Reddick in the scoring party for the second half.
The Tigers were still just down 64-50 after three quarters. JayDarius Wilson and the Whittington crew, Colin and Carter, battled hard to keep the Tigers close enough to try and pull off a late-game rally. But, on this night, no rally would be forthcoming.
Lyon County opened the final quarter with nine straight points to settle the issue and run the lead out to 73-50. Caldwell County would get no closer than 18 points the rest of the way.
Travis Perry hit for 37 points to lead Lyon County. Perry, who became Kentucky’s all-time leading 3-point scorer Friday night, added seven more threes to his career total. Jack Reddick added 22 points. Brady Shoulders finished with 9, all of them coming in the second half.
JayDarius Wilson was the leading scorer for Caldwell County with 24 points. Colin Whittington finished with 11. Carter Whittington and Demarius Thompson added 10 points each.
Lyon County improves to 19-5 with the win, while Caldwell County drops to 4-16 with the loss.
CCHS – 25 05 20 13 — 63
LCHS – 24 21 19 27 — 91
Caldwell County – Wilson 24, Col. Whittington 11, Car. Whittington 10, Thompson 10, Parker 4, Bard 4, Maddox 1
Lyon County – Perry 37, Reddick 22, Shoulders 9, Breedlove 6, Kirk 6, Suitor 5, Collins 2, Burchett 2, Downing 2
