Thousands of fans welcomed the state champion Lyon County basketball team back to Eddyville on Sunday afternoon with a parade through Eddyville, then celebrated during a rally held in Jason White Gymnasium.
Lyon County won the school’s first-ever KHSAA team state championship on Saturday when they defeated Harlan County 67-58 at Rupp Arena. It was the first state championship game to feature county schools since 2011.
During the celebration on Sunday, Superintendent Russ Tilford said the community has been behind this team from the start.
click to download audioPrincipal Tom Radivonyk gave praise to the coaching staff for getting the team to the point of claiming a championship.
University of Kentucky signee Travis Perry scored 27 points in the win over Harlan County and was named the Sweet 16 MVP. He finishes his Lyon County career as the state record holder for points and several other statistical categories. He said the state championship was for Lyon County and the community.
click to download audioLyon County finished its season with a school-record 36 wins. With an enrollment of 273 students and playing in an un-classed, winner-take-all tournament, Lyon County is the smallest school to win a state title since Paintsville in 1996 — by one student. Paintsville had 272 students when they became the first mountain school in over 40 years to win a state title.
Lyon County is the first team from the Second Region to win the state title since Christian County in 2011 and the fifth school overall, joining University Heights Academy in 1992, Hopkinsville in 1985, and Earlington in 1967.
