Perry’s 41 Sends Lyons Back to Regional Title Game

In a big game, you look for big players to step up and show their mettle. Lyon County junior Travis Perry did just that in a huge way in Monday night’s regional semifinal game against Christian County. Perry scored 41 points as the Lyons ran away from the Colonels in the second half for a 76-53 win and earned a return trip to the 2nd Region championship game.

The atmosphere around Don Parsons Court was electric from the opening tip. With a standing-room crowd roaring from the beginning, Christian County jumped out to an early 8-2 lead thanks to their defense and balanced effort on the offensive end. Four different Colonels scored during the start.

But with Travis Perry on the floor, a six-point lead can evaporate in the blink of an eye. Over a 45-second span, Perry drilled three shots from behind the arc to put the Lyons up 11-10.

The two teams traded blows over the final 3:30 of the opening quarter. Travis Perry’s three late in the quarter put the Lyons in front 18-16 after one. The three capped off a beastly quarter for Perry, one that saw him score 14 points.

The Lyons blistered the nets in the opening quarter, knocking down 7-11 shots, including 4 of 6 from behind the line. Christian County was 7 of 14 in the first. There were three ties and three lead changes in the opening eight minutes of the game.

Two things began to change for the Lyons in the second quarter. One, Travis Perry began to get some help at the offensive ends. Two, the Lyons began to find their way to the free-throw line.

Lyon was up 25-22 when Brady Shoulders and Jack Reddick ignited an 8-2 run that pushed the Lyons out to a 33-24 lead. Shoulders buried a pair of deep threes during the run. The half would end with the Lyons up 33-26. Breland Morrison and Jordan Miles had big plays in the quarter to help keep the Colonels within shouting distance going into the break.

Points off turnovers were the story of the opening half. The Lyons converted 10 Colonel turnovers into 14 points, while Christian County could only turn eight Lyon turnovers into two points. The Lyons also hit 6 of 13 from behind the line, while Christian County was 2 of 8.

The Lyons came out to start the second half and got themselves a little breathing room. Travis Perry scored 8 points in the first four minutes of the third as the Lyons pushed the lead out to 41-28. On the defensive end, Lyon County switched to a 2-3 zone and began to dare the Colonels to shoot from the outside.

The Colonels got a three from Derrell Bateman and a putback from Jordan Miles to cut the lead to 41-33, and then came what may have been the turning series of the night. The Colonels came up with the ball and looked like they had a run out going to the other end to cut the lead to just six. However, Jack Reddick got his hands on the pass and the Lyons found Travis Perry open in the corner, and you know what happens most of the time when Perry gets left open from behind the line.

Then the roof caved in on Christian County. After the steal and three, Lyon County scored the next 19 points of the game in a span of fewer than four minutes. By the time K.J. Vaughn made a free throw in the final second of the third, the Lyon County lead was up to 60-34 and the Lyons could start planning their trip back to Madisonville on Tuesday night.

Travis Perry put on a show in the third, scoring 20 points in the quarter. He hit four of five from behind the three-point line and 8 of 8 at the free-throw line, showing why he is one of the most prized recruits in Kentucky in the Class of 2024.

The fourth quarter would turn out to be just eight minutes to determine the final score and the final margin.

In addition to Perry’s monster night of 41 points, Lyon County got 14 points and 8 rebounds from Brady Shoulders. Jack Reddick also hit double figures with 10.

For Christian County, Breland Morrison finished the night with 15. Derrell Bateman added 14 points and 7 rebounds, while Jordan Miles reached double-figures with 10.

Lyon County was 22 of 43 from the field, including 13 of 27 from behind the arc. Perry was 10 of 18 from the field, 9 of 13 on threes, and 12 of 14 from the free throw line.

With the win, which was their 15th straight, the Lyons improve to 29-5 and advanced to the 2nd Region championship game for the second year in a row.

Christian County sees its season end at 19-13. Lyon County has ended the Colonels’ season in the region tourney two years in a row.