It was one of two big matchups of 2nd Region contenders Thursday night. With Crittenden County traveling to take on Henderson County to the north, the Lyon County Lady Lyons hit the trail to Mortons Gap for a big late-season showdown between teams dreaming of a March trip to Rupp Arena.
And, Thursday night’s game would have been well worthy of a regional championship contest. Addie Menser’s open look from the top of the key just ahead of the horn was just off line and the Lyon County Lady Lyons won a classic battle over the Hopkins County Central Lady Storm 57-54.
The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than 7 points. There were 8 ties and 10 lead changes for the game.
Getting an early three from Courtney Collins, Lyon County opened the game running out to a quick 8-4 lead.
With their press going wall-to-wall, the Lady Storm took advantage of early Lyon County miscues to score seven unanswered points and go up 11-8. Addie Menser and Tyah White played a big role in the run.
Then it was Lyon County’s turn. Lyon Couny ripped off a 9-0 spurt and took a late 17-11 lead in the opening quarter. Sloan Cotham gave the Lady Lyons a big boost with 5 points and 2 rebounds coming down the stretch of the first.
A late basket from the Lady Storm made it 17-13 after one.
Piper Cotham opened the second with a basket underneath, extending the Lyon County lead to 19-13.
But, the turnover bug bit Lyon County and allowed the Lady Storm to make a move. With Tyah White and Calajia Mason driving the train, Hopkins County Central fought back to tie the game at 20-20.
Over the rest of the half, the game would be tied at 23-23, 25-25, and 27-27. Courtney Collins knocked down a jumper in the lane just ahead of the horn to send the Lady Lyons into the break holding a 29-27 lead.
The junior trio of Piper Cotham (6), Courtney Collins (10), and Trinity Taylor (7) were big for Lyon County in the first sixteen minutes.
On the other side, Tyah White had 10 and Calajia Mason had 9 at the break to lead Hopkins County Central.
The defensive pressure from each team was causing the other issues. Lyon County had 11 turnovers in the half while the Lady Storm had 12.
The third quarter opened and the two teams looked like Rocky and Apollo Creed standing in the middle of the ring with each giving it their best shot and the other refusing to go away.
The Lady Storm scored a quick five to go back in front 32-29. Trinity Taylor and Lily Coffman buried threes to put the Lady Lyons back up 35-32.
Hopkins Central getting timely threes from Bri Dulin, Addie Menser, and Braylee Marsh was able to charge back into the lead at 42-40. But then back came the Lady Lyons, scoring the final seven points of the third to take a 47-42 lead into the final eight minutes.
Three-point shooting was a big factor in the quarter for the Lady Lyons as Trinity Taylor and Lily Coffman each knocked down a pair.
It looked like Lyon County was about ready to try and put the game away when Jenna Coursey scored and gave Lyon County its biggest lead of the night at 49-42.
Enter Calajia Mason. The Hopkins Central senior scored seven straight points to pull the Lady Storm even at 49-49 with 5:42 to go in the game and the battle was on.
The Lady Lyons scored four straight to take a 53-49 lead. Hopkins Central responded with five straight, capped off with an Addie Menser steal and layup that made it 54-53 Lady Storm inside the final minute.
Lyon County’s Trinity Taylor was fouled going to the basket with 23.3 seconds left and made both free throws to put Lyon County back up 55-54. A Hopkins County turnover gave the ball back to the Lady Lyons and Trinity Taylor was fouled again with 5.5 seconds left and again made both free throws to put the Lady Lyons up 57-54.
After a time out, Hopkins Central through the ball to mid-court and took another timeout. With Central about to inbounds the ball, Lyon County coach Ricky Baker took a timeout to set up his defense, setting the stage for the final shot.
Hopkins County Central got the ball inbounds in front of their bench and quickly swung the ball around to the top of the key, where Addie Menser flashed open and got a good look at a three, but it was just off line and the Lady Lyons had their 20th win of the season.
Trinity Taylor had 17 points, including four of four at the line in the final thirty seconds for the Lady Lyons. She also pulled down 7 rebounds. Courtney Collins added 16 points and 8 rebounds. Her 7th rebound of the night gave her 1,000 for her career, and made her a member of the very exclusive 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound club at Lyon County. Piper Cotham was limited to 8 points but did pull down 7 rebounds. Sloan Cotham had 7 points and Lily Coffman had two huge second-half three pointers for six points.
Tyah White led three Lady Storm players in double figures with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Calajia Mason ended up with 16 points. Addie Menser had 12 points and 8 rebounds.
Lyon County improves to 20-6 with the win and now needs just three wins to set the all-time single-season record for the Lady Lyons. Lyon County kicks off a stretch of four straight home games to end the regular season Saturday when they host Mayfield.
The Lady Storm drop to 16-10 for the year. Hopkins County Central goes to Breckinridge County Saturday for the Vintage Classic.
