'I just knew we needed this': Newport tames Lyon County in the All 'A' state semifinals
Revenge is a dish best served in the All "A" state tournament.
Newport lost to Lyon County in the 2023 Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. Fast forward 10 months and the two met again in the small-school state semifinals.
Similar to the Wildcats' Ninth Region championship win over Cooper, they left the gym with a 50-48 win thanks to last-second heroics, this time by senior DeShaun Jackson. Head coach Rod Snapp didn't know whether Jackson would play due to an ankle injury. Instead, he delivered 14 points, four assists, and a signature moment for the Wildcats. He drove to the basket and sank a floater with 2.6 seconds left to clinch the upset.
"Our coach just had trust in me. So I just knew we needed this. This is a big-time bucket, so I had to go get it," Jackson said.
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How the Wildcats won
1. Crashing the boards: In Lyon County's quarterfinal win, it outrebounded Walton-Verona 36-27. In their first-round game, the Lions grabbed 19 offensive boards. Every stat was at a premium in Saturday's semifinal, but the Wildcats had the upper hand on the boards, grabbing 21 to the Lions' 17.
"They're tough. They're definitely tough, they're a rough team, and I think they're the best rebounding team in the state," Snapp said of Lyon County.
Sophomore James Turner finished with a game-high 11 rebounds, the majority coming in the second half. His physicality helped the Wildcats build a 43-39 lead with just under five minutes left.
2. Limiting Travis Perry: When the Lions and Wildcats faced off in the 2023 Sweet 16, Perry passed Kelly Coleman as the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school history. In Saturday's semifinal, he scored his 5,000th point on his final basket of the game. He's the most prolific scorer in KHSAA history.
"We had a strict game plan. We weren't gonna budge. We were gonna let four (other) guys beat us," Snapp said.
Perry, Jack Shoulders and Brady Reddick combine to average 63.6 points per game. They totaled just 34 points against Newport, with Reddick being held scoreless. While Perry finished with a game-high 22 points, he could never get into a rhythm as he was disturbed by Jackson and Jabari Covington.
3. Slowing the game down: Besides Jackson's injury, sophomore guard Taylen Kinney has also been dealing with an ankle injury he sustained on Jan. 13. In slowing the game down, they not only accommodated for the injuries, but were able to play with more control in a high-stakes environment.
Newport came into the All "A" tournament averaging 67.8 points through 20 games; that number has sunk to 47 points per game while in Corbin. Against Lyon County's physicality, things could have gotten ugly for Newport. But the Wildcats turned the ball over only seven times, a sign of their growth over last season.
"With the guards we have and James Turner, we're gonna try to do whatever we can do to win, however it is, if it's ugly, if it's fun," Snapp said.
Winning plays
The Wildcats converted two three-point plays to start the fourth quarter. Covington drove into the lane and got fouled while sinking a layup. His free throw gave Newport a 40-39 lead. Off a Turner rebound, Kinney saved the ball from going out of bounds and dished a cross-court assist to freshman Amontae Lowe, who converted the layup and free throw for a 43-39 lead.
"I've seen them progress a lot, Griffin (Starks) and Amontae," Jackson said. "It's great to see how they're progressing. I can't wait to see how they finish their last years of high school basketball."
Stars of the semifinal
DeShaun Jackson, Newport: He was Newport's best all-around player, scoring 14 points, grabbing five rebounds and helping limit Perry's offensive production.
Taylen Kinney, Newport: He finished with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. Lyon County head coach Ryan Perry was emphatic about not letting Kinney see the ball go through the net, but he still contributed meaningful minutes in the win.
Travis Perry: The senior and University of Kentucky commit had 22 points, three steals and two assists. He missed six shots, but four came from beyond half court as he was trusted with taking the last shot in each quarter.
What's next for the Wildcats?
Newport will play the winner of Evangel Christian and Murray in the championship game at 2 p.m. on Sunday. It is the Wildcats' first-ever appearance in the title game. They made the All "A" state tournament in 2010 and 2019 but didn't advance past the quarterfinals. It is also the second straight top 10 matchup for the Wildcats, who are ranked sixth in the latest statewide media poll. Lyon County is currently the No. 2 team in Kentucky, while Evangel Christian is ranked 10th.
Jackson, a transfer from Taft, is new to a small school state tournament. He wants to end his experience on a positive note.
"I've never experienced anything like this. I've been to state before as a freshman (at Taft), but this is different. I'm actually playing, this is real. I can't explain it," Jackson said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: KHSAA basketball: Newport set to play in first All 'A' championship
