It was the kind of game you like to see between two old rivals with the season on the line. The Lyon County Lyons closed out the game with a 11-5 run to take down Caldwell County 65-59 in the final quarterfinal round game of the Boys 2nd Region Tournament. The Lyons advance on to take on Webster County in Monday night’s second semifinal game.
The first quarter saw the two teams get up and down the floor. Pressure on the defensive end and high energy on the offensive end. Adarius Riley was almost a one man offensive show for Caldwell County in the first eight minutes scoring nine points. Five late points in the quarter from Lyon County’s Brady Shoulders was enough to give the Lyons just a vapor of breathing room at the end of the quarter with a 16-11 lead.
The opening moments of the second quarter saw more of the Adarius Riley show for the Tigers. Riley scored seven points in the first three minutes of the quarter, as Caldwell County trimmed the lead to 20-18. From there it was back and forth til the break. There were four lead changes and two ties the rest of the half.
Lyon County looked to be about to rip off a run when Travis Perry connected on two left corner threes in five seconds to put the Lyons up 31-25. However, Caldwell County scored the last four points of the half to send it to the break with Lyon County holding a very tenuous 31-29 lead.
Adarius Riley was essentially unstoppable for Caldwell County in the first two quarters. Riley finished the half with 20 of the Tigers’ 29 points. Both teams had to deal with turnover issues. The Lyons committed 11 turnovers while Caldwell County had 10 in the first half of play.
The intensity and pace from the first half did not dissipate in the second. Adarius Riley scored out of the gate to tie the game at 31-31. There were a pair of lead changes and then Lyon County took a bit of the momentum later in the quarter as Travis Perry started connecting from 3-point territory. The Lyons moved out to a 48-41 lead late in the quarter. As the quarter ended, Lyon County held a five point lead at 50-45.
The Lyons did a better job on Adarius Riley in the 3rd quarter, but it was big time play from JaMarius Blaine that kept the Tigers right on the Lyons’ heels as the game entered the final eight minutes.
With Adarius Riley and JaMarius Blaine leading the way, Caldwell County started the final quarter with a 9-4 spurt to tie things up at 54-54, the fifth tie of the game. The Tigers however, would not get back to the lead, as the Lyons scored a quick five points to go up 59-54. Lyon County was then able to keep Caldwell County at arms length and pick up the six point win.
It was another big night for Lyon County’s Travis Perry. The 8th grader finished with 30 points and 9 rebounds. Jackson Shoulders had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Whalin added 9 points and 8 rebounds.
Adarius Riley ended his career with a huge night, finishing the game with 29 points. JaMarius Blaine added 14 points for the Tigers.
A big story in the game was the battle on the boards. Lyon County controlled the glass for most of the night, outrebounding Caldwell County 37-24.
Lyon County improves to 23-9 with the win, their first regional tournament win since 2010. They advance on to take on Webster County Monday night.
Caldwell County sees their season end at 16-16, and as runners-up in the 7th District.
TEAM SCORING
LCHS (23-9) 16 15 19 15 – 65
CCHS (16-16) 11 18 16 14 – 59
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
LCSH: Perry 30, Bingham 5, J. Shoulders 11, Whalin 9, Crawford 2, B. Shoulders 8
CCHS: Blaine 14, Branch 7, Fraliex 7, A. Riley 29, J. Riley 2
