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If there were still any doubts among basketball fans in the Commonwealth that the Lyon County Lyons were a legitimate state title contender, the Lyons resoundingly put those questions to bed with a powerful statement win Saturday in the championship game of the White, Greer, and Maggard Orthodontics Holiday Classic with a resounding 83-63 win over the host Lexington Catholic Knights.
You could pardon the Frederick Douglass Broncos if they were watching and feeling a sense of deja vu, because what the Lyons did to them on Friday night, happened again to Lexington Catholic on Saturday, in almost the exact same fashion.
The game was tied at the half, but from the midway point of the third quarter, the game was all Lyon County, with no doubts left on the floor.
With a 54-50 lead midway through the third quarter, the Lyons dropped another third quarter bomb in the form of a 13-2 run to close out the quarter and effectively end the game and hand Lexington Catholic its first loss of the season.
The opening quarter was not one lacking for action and was a tight battle from the get-go. The first eight minutes saw three ties and five lead changes. The last of those changes going in favor of Lexington Catholic as the Knights took a 21-19 lead after the first.
The story in the first quarter was outside shooting by Catholic’s John Reinhart. Reinhart, who entered the game having made 38 from behind the arc, knocked down three from deep to help the Knights get to the slim two-point lead.
The second quarter was one of wild momentum swings. Led by a huge quarter from Travis Perry, the Lyons scored the first seven points of the quarter to take a 26-21 lead. Back came Lexington Catholic. The Knights scored six quick points to go back in front 27-26.
Perry and the Lyons then ripped off a 13-3 run to take a nine-point lead at 39-30. The Lyon County lead was 8 points at 44-36 when Lexington Catholic had another one of their runs. The Knights scored the final eight points of the half to head off the break with things all knotted up at 44-44.
The reason Lexington Catholic was even with the Lyons at the break was their 3-point shooting. The Knights hit ten in the first half, seven of them in the second quarter. In fact, all but one of their second-quarter baskets was from behind the arc.
For Lyon County, in the town where he will start his collegiate career, Travis Perry put on a second-quarter show. Perry scored 15 of his 21 first-half points in the second quarter. He also connected on four from behind the 3-point line, three of those coming in the second quarter as the Lyons hung 25 points on the board in the second eight minutes.
Jack Reddick had 10 in the opening half, while Brady Shoulders added 8. The concern for the Lyons was that Brady Shoulders picked up his third foul late in the half.
For the Knights, John Reinhart had 18 points on six made 3-pointers. Tyler Doyle had 15 points at the break.
The third quarter opened much like the second. With Travis Perry leading the way, Lyon County opened the second half with a 9-1 run to get to an 8-point lead at 53-45.
The Knights battled back to within four at 54-50 but then Bray Kirk stepped to the forefront for Lyon County. Sparked by the play of the sophomore, the Lyons used that 13-2 run to grab firm control of the game with a 67-52 lead after three. Kirk scored six of his 12 points during that game-deciding stretch.
A big story in the quarter was the Lyon County defense. After seeing the Knights knock down ten threes in the first half, the Lyons allowed them none in the third quarter, and just two meaningless ones in the final moments of the second half. In fact, the Lyons allowed the Knights just three field goals in the third quarter as the game was being resolved.
The fourth quarter became an exercise in determining the final score as Lexington Catholic’s shooting eye never returned. Lyon County would lead by as many as 24 in the quarter before settling in for the 20-point win.
Travis Perry, who was named the tournament MVP, finished the night with 33 points. Perry hit seven from behind the 3-point line. Jack Reddick added 15 points. Brady Shoulders, even with foul trouble, reached 13 points. Bray Kirk, with a big second half, ended up with 12 points.
Lexington Catholic was paced by John Reinhart with 22 points, but only four in the second half as the Lyons were pulling away. Tyler Doyle added 20 for the Knights.
After shooting 64 percent in the first half, Lexington Catholic was limited by the Lyon County defense to just 30.4 percent in the second half. The Lyons, who also shot 64 percent in the opening half, got even hotter in the second half, knocking down 73 percent in the second half, giving them 68.2 percent for the game.
Lyon County owned the glass, outrebounding Lexington Catholic 31-18. Jack Reddick had 8 rebounds to lead the Lyons.
Lyon County improves to 12-1 with their 9th straight win. Up next for the Lyons is a date with the defending state champion Warren Central Dragons Tuesday night in Eddyville.
LCHS — 19 25 23 16 – 83
LXCH — 21 23 8 11 – 63
Lyon County – Perry 33, Reddick 15, Shoulders 13, Kirk 12, Breedlove 8, Defew 2
Lexington Catholic – Reinhart 22, Doyle 20, Harward 9, Williams 4, Smith 4, Woodall 2, Turner 2
3 Responses
How many times has Lexington Catholic won this tournament?
Not this year!
I attended 4 days of the tournament and was privileged to see multiple fine players and teams. Watching the last game, Lyon County and LCHS, they fought like they were the 3rd monkey trying to get on The Ark. I expect i will see some of these teams at The Sweet 16. Thanks for enjoyable experience.