It was the game of the year so far in the 2nd Region and most who were in attendance Tuesday night would probably not be opposed to seeing it again in the 2nd Region championship game. Henderson County made some key plays in the final minute while Lyon County did not as the Colonels upset the short-handed Lyons 78-73 in Jason White Gym.
The loss was just the second for the Lyons against a 2nd Region opponent in the past three seasons.
Lyon County was without senior Jack Reddick, who injured his ankle during the 2nd Region All A Classic championship game and then aggravated the injury during the All A Classic state tournament last week in Corbin. Indications are that Reddick could miss at least two weeks of action for the Lyons.
With the game tied for the last time at 70-70 with a minute to go in the game, Cooper Davenport hit his 8th three-pointer of the game to put the Colonels in the lead for good at 73-70. Up until that point, the game had been tied, get this, a total of 18 times.
Travis Perry made 1 of 2 free throws to cut the lead to 73-71. Dwaine Moss made a pair from the line to extend the lead out to four points at 75-71.
Brady Shoulders made two big free throws to make it 75-73 and get it back to a one-possession game. Henderson County would then leave the door open a bit when Max Thompson made 1 of 2 at the line to give Henderson County a 3-point lead.
The Colonels then made the defensive play of the night. Travis Perry’s 3-point attempt was blocked and in turn, the block led to a runout for Henderson County as Lacon McKinney scored to seal the win at 78-73.
The game was a knock-down, drag-out from the very beginning. In the first quarter, neither team led by more than 3 points as the quarter ended up in an 18-18 tie, the seventh tie of the night to that point.
The second quarter was more of the same, with neither team leading by more than five points. Two 3-pointers late from Cooper Davenport would send Henderson County into the break holding a tenuous 41-37 lead.
For the first few minutes of the third quarter, the Colonels were able to hold a lead, but not to extend it to more than six points at 43-37. Getting a big quarter from Travis Perry, the Lyons were able to fight back and tie the game at 47-47. There would be three more ties before the quarter ended. Henderson County went for what they thought would be the last shot of the quarter, but took it and missed with a couple of seconds left on the clock. That was just enough for the Lyons to throw a long outlet pass to Bray Kirk, who laid it in just ahead of the horn, giving the Lyons the lead at 59-57, and maybe just a little momentum.
Lyon County carried that momentum into the start of the final quarter and moved the lead out to six points. Henderson battled back to take a 70-67 lead, setting the stage for the frenetic finish.
Travis Perry led the way for Lyon County with 26 points. Brady Shoulders added 16. Carson Collins hit double figures with 10.
A crucial stat for Lyon County was late-game free throw shooting. At one point, the Lyons were 19 of 20 at the line. However, the Lyons missed four crucial free throws in the final minutes of the game that would turn out to be costly misses.
Cooper Davenport scorched the nets for 33 points to lead Henderson County. Dwaine Moss ended the night with 12 points for the Colonels.
The Lyons now stand at 20-3 on the season and will get back to action Saturday when they go to Warren Central to take part in the Wes Strader Schoolboy Shootout and take on Central Hardin. That game has a noon start time in Bowling Green.
HCHS — 18 23 16 21 – 78
LCHS — 18 19 22 14 – 73
Henderson County – Davenport 33, Moss 12, Belle 9, Suggs 8, Satterfield 5, McKinney 4, Kendrick 4, Thompson 3
Lyon County – Perry 26, Shoulders 18, Ca.Collins 10, Kirk 8, Breedlove 5, Defew 4, Burchett 3, Co. Collins 1
