Brady Shoulders celebrates Lyon County's state title. (Les Nicholson Photo)
If you needed a reminder about everything that is right about high school sports, you got it Saturday night.
Lyon County beat Harlan County 67-58 to win its first state championship, an amazing feat for a school with an enrollment under 400.
“It is not very often that people get to attain their dreams. These guys had these dreams way back and sacrificed for it. What we did was not easy,” Lyon coach Ryan Perry said.
Kyle Jones became the head coach at Harlan County before the 2022-23 season. That means in his second season, he got his team to the state championship game.
“They are legends forever in Harlan County. All the kids look up to them,” Jones said before breaking into tears after the loss.
Both teams have big-time players who could have bolted for bigger, more prominent schools like way too many high school athletes are doing today. However, Mr. Basketball/Kentucky commit Travis Perry stayed home to play for his father and with childhood friends Brady Shoulders and Jack Reddick while Harlan County’s Trent Noah, a South Carolina commit, did the same.
Noah had 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the state title game. Perry had 27 points and five assists.
“You grow up together with your best friends. It creates a special bond. Everybody knows everybody in your hometown. I wanted to stay in the county I grew up with and share it with them.”
Ryan Perry took his son and seniors Brady Shoulders and Jack Reddick, both Division I signees, to tournaments across the country when they were in grade school. He remembers summers when they played 90 games in “uncomfortable” settings to make them grow as players.
“In the second grade we practiced at a church on a concrete floor. We would move the chairs out and then back in (after practice),” the Lyon coach said. “They could have split. Jack and Brady could have gone to other schools and put up 30 points. They chose to sacrifice and do something special and they got rewarded.”
Both teams had huge crowds at every tournament game. This was a new experience for Harlan County fans but this was Lyon’s third straight trip to the state, another unbelievable feat for a small school.
“Most of Eddyville was here. Everything shut down so people could be here,” Ryan Perry said.
“Our community is a big part of why we play so hard. Down the stretch the crowd is behind us and they travel very well,” Shoulders, who had 15 points and seven rebounds, said. “The community lives and dies for us. I do not know what they will do after tonight. They will really be bored tomorrow.”
Reddick, who had 16 points and four assists in the win, said there was an “insane” amount of community support for the Lyons but it was the same for Harlan County.
“It was a big moment for everybody (tonight),” Jones said. “Two county schools going at it. It is the greatest show in hoops.”
“It is a shame there even had to be a loser in that game,” Ryan Perry said. “You saw two schools that do not traditionally play for a state title duking it out.”
Indeed they did. Lyon got a 14-point lead but Harlan never thought of calling it quits. Lyon looked on the ropes late in the game when Shoulders got two steals and Travis Perry scored twice to give the Lyons the separation they needed to get their first state title.
“This is something nobody can take away from any of the 15 guys on the team or anybody involved (with the team),” Travis Perry said.
Or take away from so many of us who enjoyed every minute of this epic state championship game.
15 Responses
Way to go Lyon County!
The kid, Perry, has got range. He hit from several feet behind the 3 point line.
I watched him at the Lexington Catholic Holiday Tournament. He shot one 6 feet inside the half courtline and made it.
Not a desperation shot. Just a regular shot and he knew he was going to make it.
I’m afraid if we don’t get a new coach at UK Travis will not play. There is no doubt that Cal has his favorites.
I don’t understand why Cal plays kids from Philadelphia and New Jersey over the London Legend.
Next year it’ll be Boogie Fland from New York playing ahead of the all time Kentucky scoring king from Eddyville.
Many fans said Sheppard wouldn’t play. Think he did.
We got plenty of spots for shooters in Bloomington. Cal is a terrible coach, not saying CMW is the best, but they would get major time at IU
If he don’t get at least 10 minutes a game as a freshman Run Young Man. Find greener pastures. There is no way he shouldn’t play at least 10-15 minutes a game as a freshman the way he shoots and with his basketball iq. If he only sees mop up minutes I repeat run young man. The way you play and I’ve seen him play in about 4 games he should have picks set for him to be open and calapari basically only runs a pick and roll and dribble drive. Like I said if your not satisfied run to somewhere you will play slot of minutes and play for a coach that will love to have you on the team. Good luck with your career.
Kentucky HS BB is the best of the best. It’s real. Ot a bunch of guys jumping all over the country to be on a team at a pretend HS.
Congrats to Lyon Co & to Harlan Co. Great to another Mr. Basketball going to UK. With a real coach (meaning UK must clear the debris running the sideline circus show), Sheppard, Perry, Ugo & Z coupe win back to back titles and maybe more! Just a need a coach who is honest & honors his duty to place UK 1st above anything & everything about BB.
Well said! Great article too. Sweet 16 is still special. Several first time schools this year. Congrats to all.
Thanks. Memories of going to the KY State Tourney, watching small town stars like Tommy Castle of Virgie as well as future UK stars Mike Casey & Terry Mills and others like big Wes Unseld who went to UL. The big schools and the little schools with some upsets along the way made it so special, Reed Sheppard & Travis Perry deserve to play for a real coach at UK to showcase the talent the state of KY produces. They will never be selfish and will wear their UK jersey with pride.
UK who?
Way to go Travis and Reddick shoulder and al guy on Lyon team give it up for Harlan count them guy was special and great crossing was great to all team that battled great job your state proud of all you guys
Great game! Congratulations Lyons! Great Crossing and Harlan County were noble opponents with incredible capabilities. Our Lyons are strong, dedicated warriors with tremendous focus which brought home the prize. Great team, the kind of story they make movies about!
Brings to mind the 1954 State Tournament when Inez High School (120 students) won. Billy Ray Cassidy joined Lafayette star Vernon Hatton, whose team won the championship in 1953 as a junior, at UK and they won the NCAA TITLE IN 1958.
Good memory Denzil
Congratulations Lyon. Co, You guys proved me wrong when you beat Great Crossing.