Visiting Leslie County scored the game’s first 18 points Tuesday and coasted to a 75-62 win at Harlan.
The Lady Dragons cut the deficit to 58-51 with five minutes left in the game, but Leslie County hit 15 of 16 free throws in the last period to pull away.
Leslie placed five players in double figures, led by senior guard Courtney Hoskins with 17 points. Iris Napier followed with 15. Eden Melton fired in 14. Emma Napier scored 12 while Ava Napier came off the bench and added 10.
Harlan was led in scoring by sophomore guard Aymanni Wynn with 23 points. Junior guard Emma Owens poured in 18. Sophomore guard Kylie Noe tossed in 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Melton scored seven points and Emma Napier had four as the Lady Eagles took an 18-9 advantage at the 4:12 mark of the first quarter. Wynn nailed a 3-pointer with 4:04 left in the period. Noe fired in nine first-quarter points, but Leslie County led 23-14 after one period
A 10-0 run by the Lady Eagles, led by three points each by Hoskins and Iris Napier, made it 36-14 with 3-48 remaining in the first half.
Both teams scored 10 points each the rest of to period as Leslie took a 46-24 advantage into the break.
Harlan slowly crawled back into the game in the second half.
A pair of 3-pointers and a three-point play by Wynn had the Lady Dragons within 52-40 at the two-minute mark. The Lady Eagles went into the fourth quarter leading 55-43.
With 1:38 left in the third quarter, Hoskins became the sixth member of the Lady Eagles to score 2,000 points at LCHS.
A 3-pointer and two free throws by Owens got Harlan with seven in the fourth period.
The Lady Dragons hit seven of eight free throws early in the quarter, but the Lady Eagles won the game at the line in the last period.
Harlan is still without sophomore forward Leah Davis. According to Harlan coach Tiffany Rowe, she could return the next game.
Both teams return to action Friday in district action. Leslie County (3-1) plays host to Hazard. Harlan (1-3) travels to Middlesboro in the first game of a girls-boys doubleheader.
— — —
Emily Roark poured in 18 points as Leslie County improved to 5-1 on the season with a 40-29 win in junior varsity action.
Annie Hoskins led the 0-4 Lady Dragons with seven points. Gracie Hensley followed with six. Shelby Doan added five. Addison Campbell and Petshaunce Wynn each scored four. Abbi Fields finished added three.