The Lyon County boys’ basketball team started strong, but faded against Madisonville-North Hopkins’ size down low, losing 70-53 Monday night in Eddyville. After winning two straight, the Lyons have now lost two in a row to fall to 3-12 on the year. The Maroons have won 4 of 5 to improve to 14-5 overall, the second-best record in the 2nd Region.
The Lyons started quickly, using two three-pointers by sophomore guard Bryson Penn to take a 10-6 lead with 3:20 left in the first quarter. The Maroons answered with an 8-0 run to take a 14-12 lead, before junior guard Trace Adams hit a jumper with ten seconds left to end the half knotted at 14.
The teams went back and forth for most of the second quarter, with a reverse layup by senior forward Max Wadlington cutting the Maroon lead to 19-18 with 4:23 to play. Unfortunately, those would be the last points of the half for the Lyons, as the Maroons closed on a 13-0 run for a 32-18 halftime score.
Wadlington and Penn led the Lyons with 8 points each at the half, while sophomore center Ksuan Casey paced the Maroons with 10, followed by junior shooting guard Cade Cunningham’s 8.
Madisonville would continue to stretch the lead after halftime, taking a 21-point lead at 49-28 after a three-pointer with 2:39 left in the quarter. As time expired on the period, Wadlington scored on a run out, but the Maroons still led comfortably at 56-35.
With 5:33 left to play, Wadlington stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws to get the Lyons to within 16 at 58-42, but Madisonville would push it back out to 70-46 with two minutes remaining. In the final minute, the Lyons’ Penn would connect on his third three of the night, followed by a three-pointer with ten seconds left by 8th grade guard Gunnar Bingham for the final 70-53 score.
Wadlington led all Lyon scorers with 14, battling valiantly down low all game despite a pronounced size disadvantage, followed by Penn with 13. 8th grade power forward Jackson Shoulders scored 9, all in the second half, and junior point guard Gabe Board chipped in 6. Adams had 4 points, freshman guard Travis Yancy and Bingham both had 3, with junior center Gabe DeFew adding a free throw. Casey and sophomore small forward Kenny White both scored 16 for the Maroons, and Cunningham finished with 14.
The Lyons will have an opportunity to avenge two early-season defeats later in the week, hosting Caldwell County (8-9) on Thursday and Dawson Springs (4-11) on Friday. The Lyons fell at Caldwell 70-53 on the season’s opening night, and lost on the road to the Panthers 71-53 on December 9.