BARBOURVILLE — Harlan hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter and nine for the game Monday to defeat Barbourville 70-60 in the semifinals of the 13th Region All “A” Classic.
The Tigers held a pair of leads early in the game on three treys by Matthew Warren.
Kyler and Kaleb McLendon hit two each and Trenton Cole end the opening quarter with another as Harlan led 21-18 after eight minutes and never trailed again.
Junior guard Kyler McLendon poured in 29 points to lead the Green Dragons. Kaleb McLendon, a senior guard, scored all 18 of his points in the first half. Senior forward Jaedyn Gist finished with 16 points.
Warren, a senior guard, paced the 9-6 Tigers with 21 points. Travis Scott, also a senior guard, added 11 points.
Kaleb McLendon hit three treys in the second quarter as Harlan built a 41-33 advantage at the break.
Both teams traded baskets most of the third quarter. Kyler McLendon nailed a 3-pointer and Gist closed the period two two straight baskets as the Green Dragons went into the final quarter ahead 58-47.
Gist opened the fourth period with a basket, but Warren scored six unanswered points to pull the Tigers with 60-53 with 3:12 to play.
Kyler McLendon had three baskets the rest of the game as Harlan prevailed.
The Green Dragons will take on Jackson County on Tuesday for the championship at 7 p.m.
The 12-5 Generals got a basket by senior guard Jude Lakes with 1.6 seconds left to play as Jackson County edged Pineville 47-45 on Monday’s opening game.
Junior forward Carter Conigan powered the Generals with 15 points. Lakes scored 11 while sophomore forward Keagan Ward tossed in 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Sawyer Thompson scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first half for the Mountain Lions. Sophomore Ashton Moser added 11 points and six boards.
Jackson County only led for about two minutes of the game.
Thompson scored six points and Sam Caldwell had two as Pineville jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Moser and Thompson each nailed a 3-pointer as the Lions took a 16-7 advantage at the end of the opening period.
Jackson County opened the second quarter with a 9-2 run to pull within 18-16 with 6:14 remaining in the first half.
Pineville quickly pushed the lead back to eight with 4:26 left in the period  The Generals got as close as two points three other occasions including 31-29 at halftime.
The teams combined to score 11 points in the third quarter.
A 3-pointer by Moser and a three-point play by Thompson allowed Pineville to lead 37-34 entering the final period.
Six straight points by Jackson County, put the team ahead 40-37 with 5:19 remaining.
A jumper by Moser and Ashton Burns gave Pineville a 41-40 edge at the 4:03 mark.
The Lions led until Ward hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 45 with 91 seconds left.
Pineville was held scoreless the rest of the game and dropped to 9-4 on the season.