It is not the format the Lyon County Lyons anticipated, and their path appears to be a bit tougher, especially in the early rounds, but they do get the chance to play for the All A Classic state championship after all. The Lyons begin that journey Monday night as they host Murray in an opening round sectional contest.
The All A Classic, which had already been delayed from its normal mid-January time frame, appeared to be completely lost for 2021 following last week’s winter storms. However, All A officials decided later in the week to keep the tournament alive for this season, moving to a sectional approach to determine four teams on both the boys’ and girls’ sides that would advance to Richmond the first weekend in March to determine the small school champions.
The sectional approach, however, does mean a bit tougher path at the start for the boys’ 2nd Region All A champs. The Lyons had been scheduled to open play against Kentucky Country Day, who comes in at #178 in the latest KHSAA rankings, and who the Lyons handled easily last week, 91-58, on their way back from the postponed All A.
Lyon County now takes on Murray to open the tournament. The Tigers come in ranked #82 in the last RPI rankings. Lyon County was ranked #32 by the RPI.
Should the Lyons win, they would face the winner of Owensboro Catholic and Clinton County on the winner’s home floor. Catholic has beaten Lyon County already this season and is ranked #29 in the RPI. Clinton County is 14-2 and ranked #28 in the RPI.
The Lyons could have faced Clinton County in the 2nd round of the tournament had it been played last week, but that game would have been on the neutral court at McBrayer Arena, not 209 miles away in Albany.
Murray stands at 9-5 on the season. The Tigers’ losses have been to McCracken County, Webster County, Muhlenberg County, Marshall County, and Greenwood. Among the Tigers’ wins are victories over Apollo, Paducah Tilghman, and Madisonvlille-North Hopkins.
The Tigers are led by Grant Whitaker, who is averaging 21.5 points per game. He is one of three Tigers averaging in double figures, the other two are Charqwan McCallister (10.8ppg), and Trey Boggess (11.2ppg).
Boggess is the Tigers’ leading rebounder at 6.9 boards per contest.
Murray is solid shooting ballclub, hitting 52.1-percent of their shots on the season, including 33.9-percent from behind the three point line.
Game time Monday night is 7pm in Eddyville.
