Lyons claim victory in the 2010 District final

Fresh off a big 62-48 upset win over Trigg County’s Wildcats on Monday night, Livingston Central’s Cardinals sought another upset victory over the top seeded Lyon County Lyons Thursday night in the championship of the 5th District tournament. In what proved to be a 5th District sweep by both of Lyon’s teams, Lyon brought home the first championship trophy, a night before the 5th District girls final was to be held with the Lady Lyons taking on Crittenden County’s Lady Rockets. However, Lyon County, who had not been beaten by a 5th District opponent all season, spoiled Livingston Central’s plans of an upset as they upended the Cardinals 80-41. The 5th District champion’s lead was never threatened throughout the contest as the Livingston Central (11-12) squad found it difficult to contain Lyon’s speedy offense.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Livingston Central was finally able to get their first basket of the night. Unfortunately by that point, Lyon (21-5) had already scored 17 points on the Cardinals. A Bryant Houk three pointer gave Lyon the 20-2 lead they needed to finish the quarter offensively. Livingston scored six unanswered points after Houk’s basket to finish the quarter. At the conclusion of the first period, Lyon held a 20-8 lead over the #3 seeded Livingston Central.
According to Lyon head coach Jeff Embrey “our defensive pressure to start the game was as good as it has been all year. I thought Timmy Perdue’s defense on their point guard really took them out of their offense and the rest of the kids fed off of that. They played well together as a team and you could tell that this game really meant something to them with eight seniors.”
Chris Ringstaff’s block to begin the second quarter further staggered Livingston’s chances of cutting into the Lyon lead and fueled the Lyons intensity. Livingston’s Lucas Croft drew back to back fouls as he drove to the basket, but was only able to capitalize on two of his four attempts, but was able to get Livingston into double digit scoring. Croft’s leadership allowed the Cardinals to get within single digits of Lyon’s lead before Taylor Gray made a layup while being fouled at the 3:48 mark. Warron Sutton scored off a Gray pass to fuel Lyon on the offensive and defensive end of the floor and give the Lyons a 29-16. Gray’s pass to Houk for Lyon’s third three pointer of the night with 35 seconds remaining in the half gave them a 36-19 lead. Livingston got a three pointer in the final moments to cut Lyon’s lead to 36-22 at the end of the first half. Ryan Williams scored off another Gray pass to respond to Croft’s three point play at the 6:47 mark to further Lyon County’s advantage. Timmy Perdue had the first three point goal for Lyon of the second half off a Houk pass to make Lyon’s lead exceed the 20 point mark. Sutton in the final minute of the third quarter was able to make two of two free throws, steal the ball and convert it to a layup while being fouled where he missed the free throw, and hit a two-pointer off a Ringstaff pass before the end of the third quarter. Along with Sutton’s third quarter performance, Lyon took a 62-39 lead into the final quarter. Gray, one of the seniors who have went 42-12 in his three year span under Embrey, scored the first four points for the Lyons, assisted on another Sutton basket in the next Lyon possession, and passed to Perdue for the next Lyon County points before the 5th District champion’s starters were pulled with 4:40 left. The score was 70-33 when Coach Jeff Embrey decided to substitute in five new Lyons. Josh Polk hit back to back three pointers to further extend Lyon’s lead at the 3:23 mark. Brandon Fraliex earned a trip to the free throw line as Crittenden County had exceeded the foul limit. Fraliex was fouled while bringing the ball down the court. From the free throw line, Fraliex hit one of two free throw attempts to make the lead 78-41 with 2:17 left in the game. Michael Taylor made the Lyon lead 79-41 as he hit one of his two free throw tries. Taylor’s opportunity to add to Lyon’s lead came at the 1:48 mark. With less than a minute before Lyon had officially been crowned champions, Dustin Domitz found himself at the free throw line. Domitz scored Lyon’s final point of District play as he made one of his two free throw attempts. Defensively, Livingston found it tough to score amongst the defense of Brandon Crady, Andrew Brazell, Dustin Taylor, Kell Blackburn, Fraliex, and Domitz as the Cardinals could only score five points after the 3:52 marker. Casey Kinnis, although injured for most of the season, was able to step onto the court and add pressure and serve as an offensive threat for the Cardinals in the final seconds.
The leading scorer for the 5th District champions was sophomore Sutton as he stepped up and scored 29 points on Livingston Central. Sutton had 52 percent of Lyon’s two-point field goals with 12 in the contest. Along with his 24 points from inside of the arc, Sutton also hit five of six free throws (83 percent). By halftime, Sutton had 13 points and added 14 more in the third quarter of play before going down near the end of the third quarter with a foot injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the postseason. Gray, a senior, had 20 points in the Lyon victory. By the start of the second quarter, Gray had seven points and continued scoring with at least one field goal in every quarter thereafter. Eight of Gray’s attempts from inside of the arc were completions, while he was able to make four of his six free throw attempts (67 percent). Gray had 12 of his points by halftime of the contest. Houk, who was able to pace and lead the Lyons as a senior captain, had 12 points on four three pointers. Nine of Houk’s points were scored before halftime. Houk accounted for 57 percent of all Lyon three pointers in the game. As a team, the Lyons were able to make 23 of their attempts from two-point range. Seven three pointers were credited to the Lyon’s offense. Gray and Sutton accounted for all but four of Lyon’s 13 free throw makes; the champions attempted 19 free throws (68 percent). Seniors Gray, Houk, and Perdue were selected to the All 5th District team for their efforts throughout the season.
“Taylor not only made All District but all Region again this year, his second year in a row. He is regarded throughout our Region as one of the top five or six players. He has led us this year in rebounding also. We have really seen a big difference in Timmy with his defensive pressure that he has been able to put on the other team’s ball handler. Bryant Houk has really been our best perimeter shooter, but I am proud that he has become a pretty good defensive player. He has become a force on the inside as he has been rebounding much better. He helps because the pressure we put on teams from Williams and Perdue to defend teams when they try to pound it on us,” was Coach Embrey’s views on his all District players. “I told the kids in the locker room that Warron Sutton, being our second leading scorer this year, along with Chris Ringstaff and Ryan Williams were just as deserving in my book.”
Croft and Jonathon Armstrong, both sophomore guards, were able to combine for 24 of Livingston’s 41 points as each had 12 points each. Armstrong had six points in each half as he made four of his team’s five three point goals. Croft had half of Livingston’s free throw attempts along his way to picking up four points from two field goals from within the lane. Croft made eight of 10 free throws (80 percent) for the remainder of his points. Senior forward Justin Loveless finished his last game in a Cardinal uniform with nine points. Loveless made four field goals from inside of the arc and hit one of two free throws (50 percent). Lyon’s defense was able to hold the senior to a single point in the second half as Loveless had eight points in the first half. Two senior Cardinals played their final game, of which their team hit 60 percent in from the charity stripe (12/20). Croft and Loveless combined for all but one of Livingston’s seven two-point field goals.
Lyon (16-2 versus Regional opponents) will next be in action in the 2nd Region tournament when they face Webster County’s Trojans in both team’s opening round on Thursday, March 4 at 7:30. Madisonville-North Hopkins will be the host school for all games of the 2nd Region tournament. Webster (16-8, 9-6 versus 2nd Region opponents) lost 62-47 to Henderson County in the finals of the 6th District to earn a bid to face the Lyons. Webster has faced every 5th District team except Lyon this season, earning victories over all of them.
Head coach Embrey commented that even though “our game against them got snowed out and wasn’t rescheduled, but we think we have an advantage in our experience and strength. We are going one at a time at this point. It will be a team effort. Everyone on the team has a job to do, whether it is playing time or not. The guys off the bench have to get us ready to play. ”
The single elimination Regional tournament will hold quarterfinals on Monday, March 8. If Lyon defeats Webster, they will face either Christian County or Hopkins County Central at 7:30. Lyon holds two regular season victories over Hopkins County Central, but has not faced the Regional favorite Christian County. The championship for the 2nd Region will be held on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00 with Webster, Christian, Hopkins County Central, or Lyon taking on Madisonville-North Hopkins, Henderson, Livingston Central, or Hopkinsville. Lyon lost to Hopkinsville in their only meeting of the regular season 44-56, defeated Madisonville-North Hopkins in their only matchup of the season 65-62, defeated Livingston to get to the Regional tournament, and has not faced Henderson County.