UK Fan Enjoyed Watching Travis Perry Play Just Like She Did Reed Sheppard a Year Ago

Kentucky fan Tonda Lawson, left, with Kentucky signee Travis Perry after his 40-point game Friday at the City of Palms Classic.

Long-time Kentucky fan Tonda Lawson of Fort Myers, Fla., appreciates the high level of high school basketball competition there is each year at the City of Palms Classic during the holidays.

However, she enjoys it even more if there is a Kentucky connection she can enjoy like she has the last two years. In 2022, she got to cheer for Kentucky signee Reed Sheppard of North Laurel. Last week she got to cheer for Kentucky signee Travis Perry of Lyon County.

Perry, already the all-time scoring leader in Kentucky, had a game-high 40 points Friday as Lyon beat Buckhorn (Ala.) 93-64 to win the City of Palms Classic Small Town Signature Series. He also had 10 points, four rebounds and four steals — kind of similar to the kind of stat-stuffing games that Sheppard always seems to have.

Perry was 15 of 22 from the field, including 7-for-11 from 3.

Lyon’s fast pace was too much for Buckhorn as Lyon led 51-28 at halftime and 77-41 going to the fourth quarter. Lyon hit 57.4 percent overall from the field and 57.1 percent from 3. Tennessee-Martin signee Brady Shoulders had 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds while Jack Reddick — one of the state’s most underrated players — had a triple-double with 11 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. He also made three 3-pointers.

“Travis’ team tonight was really fun to watch,” Lawson said after watching Lyon County play and getting to meet Perry after the game. “They played very similar to Kentucky with lots of passing and 3’s.

“The assistant coach told me Travis is the valedictorian of his class as well. That is fabulous. Being a Wildcat is so much more than just skill. It’s a way of life long after that skill fades.”

She thought basically the same thing last year when she watched Sheppard play. She got to sit with North Laurel fans and met Jeff Sheppard, Reed’s father, before actually getting to meet Reed Sheppard in the parking lot.

“But spending time cheering with jeff and all the others was fabulous,” Lawson said.

The 2022 event was right after Hurricane Ian devastated parts of Florida and not a lot later Lawson came down with pneumonia.

However, she never quits following her Cats.

“I have certainly enjoyed the Louisville wins in football and basketball as well as every minute of the basketball games so far,” she said.  “It’s hard to believe how much Reed has grown since we watched him here last year.

“He’s amazing and bringing so much joy. We’re all so blessed to belong to our BBN family.”