JACKSON – March 20, 2021 – Brendon D. Miller
Estill County, the 56th District Champion, and Perry Central, the runners-up in the 54th District, staged a gritty, defensive battle to open the 14th Region Tournament at the Fairce O. Woods Coliseum on Saturday.
The game was streamed LIVE on BSN!
Perry Central entered the game at 8-13 on the season, but that record did not reveal that Perry had been competitive in many of those losses and the Commodores just needed to correct some mistakes to get wins in those games. Estill always plays excellent defense and is patient on offense.
Both teams struggled offensively with Perry shooting 33% (14 of 42) on the night, Estill just slightly better at 37% (13 of 35) for the game. In the end, the Commodores prevailed 40-37 in a tight, tense battle as the Engineers missed a three at the buzzer to time the game.
1st QUARTER
The Engineers jumped out to an early lead out-scoring the Commodores 13-8 in the 1st. Landon Napier led the Engineers with five on a basket and 3 of 4 at the line, while Will Isfort added four on a basket and 2 of 2 at the line. Dyllon Long and Kade Benton each added two. Perry Senior Dylan Brock had two field goals for four, Lanse McKenzie had a basket, and Tyler Day was 2 of 2 from the line.
2nd QUARTER
Both teams had trouble scoring in the 2nd. Perry totalled seven in the quarter led by McKenzie who had a basket and was 3 of 4 at the line and Day had a basket. Estill was held to one field goal in the period by Napier and Long was 2 of 2 at the line. At the half, Estill was up two, 17-15.
3rd QUARTER
The teams played to a 10-10 tie in the quarter. Estill got six more from Napier, and a basket from each Isfort and Cobbe Click. McKenzie had two more baskets for four and Day had a field goal and was 2 of 2 from the line for four as well. Headed to the 4th, Estill still held a two point leade 27-25.
4th QUARTER
Perry finally took a lead on a Tyler Day 3-pointer (Perry’s only trey in the game) with 6:20 to play. Day would have nine of the Commodore’s 15 to total his co-game-high 17. McKenzie and Carter Castle each had a basket while Rydge Beverly was 2 of 2 at the line. Napier added four to total his co-game-high 17 and Click hit two big 3-pointers inside the final minute to bring the Engineers back to the brink at the end.
| Scoring by Quarter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
| PERRY CENTRAL | 8 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 40 |
| ESTILL COUNTY | 13 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 37 |
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
PERRY CENTRAL – Tyler Day 17, Lanse McKenzie 13, Rydge Beverly 4, Dylan Brock 4, Carter Castle 2.
ESTILL COUNTY – Landon Napier 17, Cobbe Click 8, Will Isfort 6, Dyllon Long 4, Kade Benton 2.
Perry will face Knott Central in the first Semi-Final on Monday at 5:30 PM. The two teams met on February 20th in Hindman with Knott Central prevailing 72-67.
Post Game Press Conferences for both Perry Central and Estill County.
