Henderson Flexes Muscles In Region-Opening Win Over Lyon County

If you want to unseat the Henderson County Lady Colonels as girls’ region champion, you are going to have to take the title from them.

The six-time defending champion showed no signs of giving up its grasp on the title, defeating Lyon County 77-40 in Monday’s quarterfinal at Christian County’s Lyle Dunbar Gymnasium.

Lyon County jumped out 4-0, but the lead disappeared quicker than the 90s pop band Ace of Base.

Henderson County used a relentless press to take control of the contest, thanks to a 16-0 run. The Lady Colonels scored 10 points off seven Lyon turnovers in the opening frame, getting up eight more shots than Lyon.

“The more we can trap them and force them to pass the basketball and the more you get it out of (Piper) Cotham’s hands, the more susceptible they are to turn the basketball over,” Henderson coach Stephen Haile said. “Our full-court pressure was good, and our half-court trap was very good to keep them frustrated, and that’s when we got quite a few turnovers.”

Henderson built a 21-point lead at 35-14 in the second quarter thanks to 8 of 16 shooting from the field. The Lady Colonels scored 12 points from steals and 15 points off 16 Lyon turnovers.

Monday was a far cry from the February 1 contest in Henderson that saw the Lyon play within 10 points in the second half before falling 66-49.

“We played them much better earlier in the year and didn’t have near as many turnovers with the press,” Lyon County coach Dawn Cotham said. “Tonight was a big moment on the big stage, and I could tell by the look on some of the girls’ faces, they just weren’t ready for those big moments. They didn’t want any part of it. They were scared to death.”

Up 37-18 at halftime, Henderson County didn’t let up in the second half, hitting 19 of 32 shots with the final 37-point margin the largest of the game.

The final turnover story showed 25 from Lyon County, which led to 31 Henderson County points.

“We get those turnovers, and at least it’s some easy runouts for us on the other end. And it kind of wears the other team out, too. The more I thought we could get them up and down the floor would be better for us because we like to play more kids than they normally do,” Haile said.

Allyson Rideout led four Lady Colonels in double figures with 17 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Anna Kemp added 12 points, and Rashia Cansler came off the bench to add 11 points.

Lyon County was able to get Henderson County’s two leading scorers – Atylia Green (12.6) and Brooklyn Gibson (13.1) into early foul trouble but couldn’t capitalize. Gibson finished with 11 points, and Green had six.

Henderson County shot 55% from the floor (34/62) and outscored Lyon County 56-26 in the paint. Their Swiss watch precision offense also managed 17 assists on 34 buckets.

“The girls shared the ball well tonight, and that was really key. I even challenged them at halftime. I know we had a lead, but I thought we missed a few passes that should have been made, and in the second half, we passed the ball better than we did in the first half.” Haile said.

Piper Cotham led Lyon County with 14 points. Trinity Taylor added nine points and eight rebounds, and Jenna Coursey scored nine points.

Lyon County shot just 35% from the field and was 1 of 15 from 3-point range.

The Lady Lyons finished with their second straight 21-10 record, but Cotham knows the clock is ticking on a group that has yet to find success at the region level.

“These girls had high hopes, and we know in the region that all roads go through Henderson. That’s why we got them on our schedule this year,” she said. “We want that competition, and if we want to grow and get better as a team, those are the teams you have to play.”

“Our 21 wins are not against some cupcake schedule. These are the toughest schedules that we’ve put together in back-to-back years and these girls continue to be able to do big things so we’re just gonna keep pushing them and hopefully we’ll grow throughout the years and eventually one day we’ll be ready for the postseason,” an optimistic Cotham said about her team that features only one senior and one junior.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE GAME

Henderson County has won 14 consecutive first-round games dating back to 2011. That year, Lyon County handed the Lady Colonels the rare opening-round loss. Lyon hasn’t won a region game since (0-9).

The Lady Colonels, who have won 58 of 59 games against region teams, will play Hopkins County Central on Friday at 6:00 in a rematch of last year’s championship game, won by Henderson 55-33. Henderson County has won 20 straight against the Lady Storm dating back to the 2000 region tournament.

Second Region Tournament coverage comes to you courtesy of the Fredonia Valley Bank