YSE File Photo
While the Lyons appear to like shooting in the SEC home of the Kentucky Wildcats, that may not be the case now in the SEC home of the Missouri Tigers. The Lyons struggled to get the ball in the basket from the very beginning and never found their shooting eye in a 71-54 loss to Father Tolton Catholic, Mo. in the Norm Stewart Classic in Columbia, Missouri.
The 54 points for the Lyons was their lowest scoring output since a 73-53 loss last December to Lexington Catholic in the White, Greer, and Maggard Holiday Classic.
Whether it was the long trip to Missouri, the arena shooting background, the Trail Blazers’ defense, or a combination of all three, the Lyon County offense never seemed to find its groove.
The Lyons did not score for the first time in the game until the 4:01 mark in the first quarter when Travis Perry knocked down a three to make it 5-3. Despite the cold shooting, the Lyons were able to score four points in five seconds at the end of the opening quarter to take a 15-11 lead and you had the feeling that maybe, just maybe, that the Lyons were ready to get rolling.
Early in the second quarter, Lyon County would push the lead out to 19-13, but things headed south from that point. Father Tolton scored the next nine points to take a 22-19 lead and that would be a lead they would hold for the rest of the night. The Trail Blazers would end up taking a 31-26 lead into the break.
The Lyons shot 38.5 percent from the field in the first half and 3 of 11 from behind the arc. The problem for Lyon County was that those would be the high water marks of the night.
As the Lyons began play in the second half, it was like the goal had an invisible lid on it. Whether inside, or outside, Lyon County simply could not get the ball to find its way through the hoop. The Trail Blazers were inch the lead out to 51-39 after three quarters. It was not an insurmountable deficit, especially the way the Lyons have been able to put up points over the past three seasons, but it just was not meant to be on this Saturday night in Missouri.
As the Lyons’ shooting percentage went down, their frustrations went up. Lyon County would be called for four technical fouls and one flagrant foul as the Father Tolton lead grew.
The Trail Blazers’ lead would reach as many as 23 points in the final quarter.
Lyon County would shoot 27.6 percent in the second half, bringing them to 32.7 percent for the game. The Lyons were 0 for 9 on threes after halftime, as they finished 3 of 20 from behind the arc.
Travis Perry led the Lyons with 22 points. Brady Shoulders chipped in 14. Bray Kirk had nine, all coming in the second half.
Zay Wilson led the Trail Blazers with 22 points. Javar Galbreath added 15.
Compounding Lyon County’s cold shooting was the fact that Father Tolton shot 51.9 percent for the game.
Lyon County (3-1) will look to rebound Tuesday night when they host Trigg County in a 5th District contest at Jason White Gym.
