Fifth District champion Lyon County used a stingy defense and timely free throw shooting to knock-off Webster County 47-43 in overtime in the opening round of the Second Region Tournament last Thursday night at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School.
It was the first regional tournament win for the Lyons since 1991. Meanwhile, the Trojans ended their season with a 16-9 record.
Lyon (22-5) used the combination of good defense and foul trouble to limit high-scoring James Winstead to a season-low seven points. The senior center sat out most of the fourth quarter with foul trouble and then fouled out with 1:46 left in regulation.
Sophomore guard Jacob Scott led the Trojans with 13 points, scoring seven in the fourth quarter. He nailed a pair of free throws with 22.8 seconds remaining in the game to give Webster a 39-37 lead.
But Lyon’s Taylor Gray, who led all scorers with 17, answered at the other end with a 14-foot jumper to tie the game at 39-all.
Webster had a good look for their last shot to win the game on a baseline jumper from Trey Tapp. But the shot rimmed out and Lyon secured the rebound to send the game into the extra period.
Webster fell apart in overtime, turning the ball over on its first two possessions and committing four turnovers in the extra frame.
“We threw the ball away too much. We got tentative again,” said WC head coach Bev Hart. “We handled it (defensive pressure) pretty much the whole game, but when the game’s on the line we get so afraid.”
Lyon took the lead for good on a pair of free throw 13 seconds into the overtime period. After Webster’s second straight turnover, Lyon pushed its advantage to 43-39 on a basket by Ryan Williams.
On two different occasions, Webster trimmed the lead to two points, but the Lyons were perfect at the free throw line in the final :30 of the game, nailing 4-of-4.
The very slow-paced game saw the Trojans ease out to a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Gray ignited the Lyons in the second period, scoring 12 points and pusing LCHS to within two points. The Lyons outscored Webster 13-11 in the second quarter but the Trojans still maintained a 24-20 lead at halftime.
Webster managed just one field goal through most of the third quarter until Scott drilled a buzzer-beater that tied the game at 29-all.
Hunter Little added six points and five rebounds while Trey Tapp finished with nine points, hitting 3-of-6 three-point attempts. Tyler Harting also had six points and five boards while Derrick Douglas rounded out the scoring with two points. Harting and Clay Putman dished out three assists apiece. Webster out-rebounded the Lyons 28-27 bu the Trojans had 11 turnovers to the Lyons’ eight.
