Focused on Harlan County sports — today and yesterday

harlancountysports.com
Harlan ARH 2
Scott Lisenbee
Focused on Harlan County sports — today and yesterday

harlancountysports.com
Harlan ARH 2
Focused on Harlan County sports — today and yesterday

harlancountysports.com
Harlan ARH 2
Basketball
Members of the Northside Queens include, from left, front row: Sophie Gray, McKenzie Fannin, Allie Gray and Jaycee Simpson; back row: assistant coach Olivia Farmer, Maci White, Ella Hubbard, Laylee Phillips and coach Wes White.
Simpson a member of squad that won Run 4 The Roses tournament
By John Henson, Managing Editor • July 12, 2026

Some of the best young high school basketball players in the state reside in the 13th Region. It was a point proven over the weekend in Louisville at the Run 4 The Roses Classic...

Harlan County senior guard Trent Cole worked against a Knott Central defender in the summer finale for both teams Wednesday in Hindman. The Bears won 54-50 to finish the summer with a 15-2 record.
Black Bears close strong summer with a sweep at Knott Central
By John Henson, Managing Editor • June 25, 2026

Harlan County closed its summer schedule with three wins Wednesday at Knott Central. The varsity Bears finished the summer at 15-2 with a 54-50 victory. Junior center Tucker...

Harlan County wins two varsity scrimmages at Letcher Central
Harlan County wins two varsity scrimmages at Letcher Central
June 21, 2026
Harlan County sophomore guard Reagan Clem drove against a Perry Central defender in summer scrimmage action Thursday. Clem scored six points in a 52-18 victory.
HCHS closes its summer schedule with victories over Perry, Letcher
June 18, 2026
Harlan sophomore guard Talae Taylor drove to the basket in summer action Thursday against Lynn Camp. Taylor led the Lady Dragons with 13 points in a 59-14 win.
Lady Dragons defeat Perry, Lynn Camp in summer scrimmages
June 18, 2026
Football
Frank Shope held his first practice as coach of the Harlan Green Dragons on Monday. Shope, a 2000 graduate of Harlan High School who went on to play at Cumberland College, inherits a squad that finished 1-10 last season. Shope is also the director of District Wide Services for the Harlan Independent Schools. The Green Dragons open their season Aug. 21 at home against Knott Central.
Shope era of HHS football begins
July 13, 2026

Williams returns to Middlesboro as defensive coordinator for Yellow Jackets
By John Henson, Managing Editor • July 12, 2026

One of the all-time greats of Middlesboro’s long football history is back home. Middlesboro officials announced Sunday that Brian Williams is joining the coaching staff as defensive coordinator. A 1982 graduate of Middlesboro...

Ovie Canady, the last football coach in Evarts High School history and the defensive coordinator for the first seven seasons at Harlan County High School, died on Tuesday.
Canady left mark on hundreds of former players in coaching career
June 30, 2026
Former Clay County and University of Kentucky lineman Jacob Hyde led the Don't Hyde Academy Camp on Saturday. Hyde focused on several drills designed to help linemen improve and get ready for the upcoming season. Hyde has worked in recent years as a line coach at Bryan Station and Lexington Christian.
Linemen take center stage during a camp led by former UK player
May 30, 2026
Frank Shope, a 2000 Harlan graduate who went on to play at Cumberland College, was named the leader of the school’s football program earlier this week.
Shope, former HHS standout, takes over as leader of football program
May 12, 2026
Baseball/softball
Harlan County High School sophomore Jackson Mackowiak was recently selected to participate in a collegiate skills showcase at the University of Kentucky.
Mackowiak attends UK camp
July 11, 2026

Harlan’s Jake Brewer dived back to first base in acton from the 13th Region Tournament on Wednesday. The Green Dragons fell 7-3 to end their season at 18-14.
Harlan’s upset bid falls short in a loss to state power in region semis
May 27, 2026

Facing one of the state’s top teams, the Harlan Green Dragons faced a huge challenge in their quest to get to the 13th Region Tournament finals for the first time since...

Harlan County junior Alexis Adams delivered a pitch in 13th Region Tournament action Monday against North Laurel. The Lady Bears fell 11-4, but Adams set a school record for strikeouts in the game.
Lady Bears fall to North Laurel in first round of regional tournament
May 25, 2026
Harlan freshman Cooper Thomas pitched a three-hit shutout Monday as the Green Dragons defeated Lynn Camp 10-0 in the first round of the 13th Region Tournament at North Laurel.
Thomas tosses shutout as Dragons advance with win over Lynn Camp
May 25, 2026
Section of ‘Cawood’s Court’ from Rupp floor now at Harlan museum
Bickerstaff, a former NBA coach, visits local Boys and Girls Club

Bickerstaff, a former NBA coach, visits local Boys and Girls Club

May 22, 2026

Reflections on a long friendship with a Harlan County sports icon

Reflections on a long friendship with a Harlan County sports icon

February 20, 2026

LMU hoops preview 1989 season – featuring Cox, Sanford, Robinson

LMU hoops preview 1989 season – featuring Cox, Sanford, Robinson

December 29, 2025

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Track/Cross Country
Clover Fork Clinic expansion becomes a reality with ground breaking ceremony in Evarts
From The Sidelines: Miner and educator, artist and coach, Howard touched thousands of lives

From The Sidelines: Miner and educator, artist and coach, Howard touched thousands of lives

May 3, 2023

From New England to Harlan County, Nash enjoying smooth transition at Clover Fork Clinic

From New England to Harlan County, Nash enjoying smooth transition at Clover Fork Clinic

January 24, 2021

Celebrating a golden anniversary in Clover Fork

Celebrating a golden anniversary in Clover Fork

December 7, 2020

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Volleyball, soccer
Tommy Key (pictured with his wife, Allison and son, Eli) has resigned from his position as Harlan County High School boys soccer coach, citing ongoing health issues.
Key steps down as leader of boys soccer program at Harlan County
By Bill Templeton, Sports Writer • July 1, 2026

Harlan County boys soccer coach Tommy Key resigned his position Wednesday morning due to undisclosed issues related to his health. “This decision...

Middle school/youth league
Harlan All Stars third baseman Maddox Landa went after a pitch in District 4 Tournament action Tuesday in Barbourville.
Four-run fifth helps South advance in final four with win over Harlan
By John Henson, Managing Editor • July 8, 2026

BARBOURVILLE — One bad inning cost the Harlan All Stars in the District 4 final four tournament on Tuesday at the Knox County Little League Complex. South Laurel...

Black Mountain sixth grader Sophie Bell broke three world weightlifting records for 10-year-olds on June 27 at the Arkansas Strength Expo in Little Rock as part of the Southern Powerlifting Federal Nationals Powerlifting Competition. She had a bench press of 121 pounds, a 242-pound squat and a 286-pound deadlift.
Bell sets three records at meet
June 28, 2026

Harlan All Stars earn another final four trip with victory over Knox
Harlan All Stars earn another final four trip with victory over Knox
June 22, 2026
Cian Garland
Hazard/Perry rolls to east division title with victory over Harlan Stars
June 21, 2026
Tri City advances with win over Harlan in District 4 tourney action
Tri City advances with win over Harlan in District 4 tourney action
June 21, 2026
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Shope era of HHS football begins
College sports
Kentucky's Trent Noah, a former Harlan County star, celebrated after hitting a 3-pointer in a 16-point game last season against Tennessee Tech. Noah announced Thursday he 's returning to UK for his junior season.
Noah scores career-high 16 as Cats coast past Pelphrey’s Tech squad
By Keith Taylor, Kentucky Today • November 27, 2025

LEXINGTON (KT) – Kentucky embraced the return of former standout John Pelphrey and turned in a performance reminiscent of the teams he played...

University of Kentucky sophomore forward Trent Noah, a 2024 Harlan County graduate, put up a shot in the Blue-White Game on Friday. The Cats will play their exhibition opener against No. 1-ranked Purdue in Rupp Arena on Oct. 24, with another preseason scrimmage against Georgetown University on Oct. 30 before the regular-season opener Nov. 4 against Nicholls.
Noah, Cats warm up for season opener with Blue-White Game
October 19, 2025

Sports columns
Harlan County native Trent Noah will return to the University of Kentucky basketball program for a third season.
Noah’s loyalty to Wildcats could be rewarded with a big junior season
By Bill Templeton, Sports Writer • April 13, 2026

Most college basketball fans would agree that the transfer portal, along with paying athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness...

John Henson From The Sidelines
From The Sidelines – HC missing regional for first time since 2014
By John Henson, Managing Editor • February 27, 2026

For the first since 2014 and only the second time in its history, Harlan County High School will not be represented when the 13th Region Tournament...

Golf/tennis
Brett Widner has been named the new golf coach at Harlan County High School.
Widner selected as the new leader of Harlan County golf program
By John Henson, Managing Editor • July 8, 2026

fter six years as an assistant, Brett Widner is moving up as the leader of the Harlan County High School golf program. “I’m incredibly excited...

Photo of the Week
Cawood coach Jim Cullivan is pictured on the cover of the Harlan Daily Enterprise football preview in 1986 after earning state coach of the year honors for leading the Trojans to an undefeated regular season in 1985. The Trojans were also unbeaten in the 1982 regular season. Cullivan posted a 66-28 record from 1980 to 1988.