Lyons declared Hopkins County Holiday Classic champions

The Lyon County Lyons faced a tough situation over the holiday break as they were forced to play three games in 24-hours as the night after a hard fought win over Trigg County, they were in action at Hopkins County Central High School’s Holiday Classic, a round robin styled tournament.
Lyon persevered and won its last two games of the tournament to tie for best record at 3-1 with the home team, Hopkins County Central. However, as the Lyons held the head to head advantage over the Storm, they were declared the champions.
Lyon (5-2 overall, 3-1 tournament) began the tournament facing familiar competition in the 5th District’s own Crittenden County Rockets (2-4 overall, 0-4 tournament). With a narrow home win already on the season over the Rockets, Lyon came into the contest with the advantage. The momentum and advantage of the previous win proved to be too much for Crittenden County was unable to overcome dropping the 48-28 contest.
Taylor Gray started Lyon off strong as he recorded as many points as the Crittenden County offense after the first quarter. By the conclusion of the first period, Lyon had taken an 11-6 lead over the Rockets. Lyon’s offense did not let up as they went into the second quarter with a couple of key three-point goals by Chris Ringstaff. But Crittenden took the quarter and barely edged Lyon scoring 14 points to Lyon’s 13.
Lyon held onto its lead to take a 24-20 lead into halftime. Lyon’s defense was the theme for the second half of play, allowing four points for the Rocket offense in both of the final quarters. Meanwhile, Lyon’s offense found points from even more players as Warron Sutton led the way for Lyon in the 3rd quarter with nine of Lyon’s 14 3rd quarter points. Sutton’s impact put Lyon up 38-24 at the conclusion of the 3rd period. Lyon finished the game on a 10-4 run to improve their tournament record to 1-0 for the tournament.
Bryant Houk had 12 points for Lyon in the game, as he hit four three pointers on the night. Narrowly missing the 12-point mark was Gray, who had 11 point performances. Gray hit 75 percent of his free throws (3/4) and made four field goals from within the arc. Sutton was a field goal short of tying Gray’s performance, as his points in the third quarter made him Lyon’s third best scorer in the game. Sutton went 3 of 4 from the free throw line (75 percent) and sunk three field goals in the paint on his way to his 9-point effort. As a team, Lyon made 11 of its attempts from inside and capitalized on 6 from outside of the arc. From the charity stripe, Lyon County hit 8 of 12 free throws (67 percent).
Nine points from Dylan Clark made him the leading scorer for the Rockets. Clark hit 60 percent of his shots from the free throw line (3/5) along with sinking three two-point field goals. Six point performances from Alex Porter and Patrick Nielsen also contributed to Crittenden’s offense.
Porter relied on his perfect free throw shooting (2/2) and two field goals from the inside of the three point arc. Three two- pointers from Nielsen rounded out the scoring for the Rockets. Crittenden hit only one three point goal, while making 10 field goals from inside of the arc. 71 percent of the free throw attempts from Crittenden players amounted in points (5/7).
Later, Lyon was in action with its second game of the classic against Louisville Valley (4-3 overall, 2-2 tournament). Fatigue played a major role for the Lyons throughout the contest, which they eventually dropped 52-40. This game was the first of the tournament for the Vikings of Valley, their second in as many days.
A strong start by Valley’s offense gave it the early lead, but Lyon’s Sutton had 4 points to keep Lyon in the game during the first quarter.
By the conclusion of the first period, Lyon was trailing 14-10 to the Vikings. Lyon picked up its pace momentarily in the second quarter to take a halftime lead. Sutton led Lyon’s offense with 7 points in the second quarter alone to give him 11 first half points, half of Lyon’s offense in the half. The Lyons took a narrow 22-21 lead into halftime. Gray got in on the action to begin the second half with 5 momentum boosting points for the Lyons. But Valley maintained its composure and defensive intensity that led to several points. By the end of the third quarter, Valley had reclaimed the lead 40-34. The toll of three games in a day’s time began to take a toll on Lyon as Valley was able to double Lyon’s offensive. Larry Mimms alone outscored the entire Lyon team with his 7 points of the quarter.
Lyon was led in scoring by Sutton, with 16 points that included one three-pointer and 75percent shooting from the cha rity stripe (3/4). Houk and Gray each had 8 points. Gray was perfect from the free throw line (2/2) along with his three two-pointers. Houk hit two of his attempts from outside the arc and one from inside. Houk’s two and Sutton’s one makes from downtown were the only three- point field goals that fell for the Lyons. The combination of Lyon top scorers hit nine total field goals from inside, 75 percent of their team’s 12 total. From the free throw line, Lyon County hit 7 of its 10 attempts (70 percent).
For Valley, Nate Williams was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points as he sank nine field goals from inside the paint. Mimms had 15 points on the night as he was perfect from the charity stripe (1/1) along with seven 2-point field goals. Kevin Farris hit the only Viking three-pointer of the night, was perfect from the free throw line (1/1), along withtwo 2-point goals for 8 points. As a team, Mimms, Williams, and Farris combined for all but three of the Viking’s 21 field goals. Valley went 3 of 7 from the charity stripe (43 percent).
After a night’s rest, Lyon faced the host school, Hopkins County Central (1-3 overall, 3-1 tournament) in its third game of the Hopkins holiday classic. With revamped energy and stamina, the Lyons came into the contest with a 2-0 tournament record, while Hopkins County Central was also undefeated at the time with a 1-0 record. In what proved to be the decisive game of the tournament, Lyon cruised to a 69-50 victory.
The contest started with Lyon’s defense holding the Storm to 4 points in the first quarter. Ringstaff fueled Lyon’s offense as he sunk three three-pointers for 9 points along the way as Lyon’s offense exploded to take a decisive 20-4 lead to close the first quarter.
A 9-point performance by Gray along with a fast paced, high octane style of play throughout the second quarter led the way to stiffen all of Hopkins County Central’s offensive efforts so that Lyon could extend upon its lead. By the conclusion of the first half, Lyon had a large lead over the host squad, 42-18.
In the thirdquarter, the Storm formulated a comeback attempt. However, despite outscoring the Lyons 14-11 the Storm was still behind at the end of the third period 32-53. Hopkins County Central sent Lyon to the free throw line throughout the fourth quarter, so much so that all 16 of Lyon’s points in the quarter came from the charity stripe. Gray led the way as he had 11 from free throws alone; he had 11 more attempts in all quarters prior to the final quarter.
It was a 19-point night from Gray on 11 of 22 free throw attempts (50 percent) and hitting four two-point field goals. Ringstaff and Houk both scored 13 points against the Storm defense and combined hit all seven of Lyon’s three-point goals. Houk contributed 4 three-point goals and hit 50 percent of his free throws (1/2). Along with his three three-pointers for 9 points of the first quarter, Ringstaff also hit one two-point field goal and sunk 2 of his 5 free throws (40 percent ). As a team, Lyon hit 11 overall two-point field goals and 26 of 47 shots from the free throw line (55 percent).
The Storm’s leading scorer was Nikee Caldwell, who was crucial in Hopkins County Central’s comeback during the third quarter as he had 8 points in that period. However, Caldwell ended the game with 17 points. He was credited with two three-pointers, four two-point goals, and hit 75 percent of his attempts from the free throw line (3/4).
Montrez Taldy had 10 points against the Lyons as he capitalized on three two-pointers, one three-point goal, and was perfect from the free throw line as he hit his only free throw. Jevonte Hughes also had 10 points as he made two of his attempts from within the two-point range and was perfect from the charity stripe (2/2). Hopkins County Central made five overall three-point goals and converted 14 two-point field goals. As a team, the Storm went 64 peercent from the charity stripe hitting 7 of 11 attempts.
In their final game of the tournament against 1st Region Lone Oak, the Lyons were seeking to improve to tie for the best record of the tournament with 3-1. Lyon County achieved that goal as it was able to overcome a first half deficit and rebound effectively in the final half. But by the end of the game and the tournament, Lyon was atop the leader board of all teams and atop the scoreboard versus Lone Oak (1-3 overall, 2-2 tournament).
The Flash took the early lead by balancing its scoring attack to defy Lyon’s defense. Lyon was able to keep the game close throughout the first quarter, but overall lost the period 12-9. Gray stepped up for Lyon in the second quarter as he accounted for 8 of Lyon’s 13 points to expose Lone Oak’s defensive flaws. At the conclusion of the first half, Gray and the Lyons had managed to take a narrow lead 22-21.
With the early lead, Lyon’s Ringstaff helped to maintain the lead and gain momentum of the contest as he drained three point goals throughout the third period. Lyon County was able to expand its lead even further as it took the 37-32 advantage into the final quarter. It was in the fourth quarter that Lyon was able to ice the game and increase its defense to hold Lone Oak to 7 points. Lyon made 7 of its 8 free throw attempts (88 percent ) to add to its lead in the fourth quarter alone.
“I was proud of our second half performance,” said head coach Jeff Embry of his team’s efforts. The champion Lyons were led by Gray’s 26 points in what was deemed the championship as both teams had only suffered one loss in the tournament at game time. Gray capitalized on 12 of his two-point field goal attempts and hit 2 of 4 free throws (50 percent) on the night.
Just short of double digits was Ringstaff with 9, who was perfect from the free throw line (3/3) along with hitting two three-pointers. Houk rounded out Lyon’s top scorers with six points as he hit one three-point goal, one from inside the paint, and went 1 of 2 from the charity stripe (50 percent). Ringstaff and Houk’s three-point goals accounted for all credited to Lyon. The Lyons also made 15 of their field goal attempts from inside and hit 11 of 18 free throws (61percent).
Lone Oak’s duo of Ray Guthrie and Carson Beyer each had 8 points for the Flash offense. Beyer earned his points from all areas of shooting with two two-point goals, one three-point goal, and was 1 of 2 from the free throw line (50 percent). Guthrie hit 2 of 3 shot attempts from the charity stripe (67 percent) along with three two-pointers. Jordan Ludovissie had 6 points in the contest to round out the leading Lone Oak scorers who hit shots from all areas of the floor as well. Ludovissie hit a single three-point goal, two-point goal, and free throw (50 percent). The top three scorers for the Flash accounted for the majority of their team’s 10 two-point field goals and free throws as the team went 7 of 11 from the charity stripe (64 percent). Overall, Lone Oak made four field goals from outside of the arc.
Livingston Central visited Lyon in a G/B varsity contest prior to press time. Lyon County will be in action on Jan. 8 when it hosts the reigning 5th District champion Trigg County Wildcats in a B/G doubleheader. The Lyons will be playing at 6 p.m. with the Lady Lyons to follow. Lyons will then hit the road for a four-game road trip, beginning at Madisonville-North Hopkins when it will follow JV Lyon action on Jan. 11 at 7:30. The following night, the varsity Lyons will travel to Caldwell where they will play the late game that is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.