Harlan County added another impressive win to its resume on Saturday as the Bears traveled to Ashland and won 71-63 over Boyd County, the top ranked team in the 16th Region.
Trent Noah led a balanced HCHS offense with 23 points. Maddox Huff and Daniel Carmical added 20 and 15 points, respectively, for the 23-5 Bears.
Cole Hicks scored 15 for the 21-5 Lions, followed by Rhett Holbrook with 14, Jason Ellis with 12 and Jacob Spurlock with 10.
Noah helped the Bears get off to a fast start as he scored 11 in the first quarter as HCHS built a 22-13 lead. Huff scored 10 in the second period as the lead grew to 41-29 at halftime.
Boyd stormed back in the third quarter, led by four 3-pointers from Hicks, to go ahead 51-49.
Harlan County responded by outscoring the Lions 22-12 in the fourth period. Carmical hit three 3-pointers in the quarter while Noah and Caleb Johnson added two baskets each.
“Boyd County has a really good team. They have good size and have three guards who can really shoot it,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “We showed some toughness today after getting down by four points going into the fourth quarter on their home court. I was proud of the effort.”
The Bears will close their regular-season schedule this week against the sixth and seventh ranked teams in the 13th Region as they play host to Whitley County on Tuesday and travel to Barbourville on Thursday.
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Boyd County won 60-50 in junior varsity action as Clark Huff scored 25 and Ethan Rardon added 15 for the Lions.
Brody Napier scored 26 points to lead the 7-6 Bears. Hunter Napier added 14. Brennan Blevins chipped in with six. Gage Bailey and Aidan Reynolds added two each.
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Harlan County (71) — Maddox Huff 20, Trent Noah 23, Daniel Carmical 15, Jonah Swanner 4, Jaycee Carter 2, Caleb Johnson 5, Brody Napier 2.
Boyd County (63) — Cole Hicks 15, Jacob Spurlock 10, Jason Ellis 12, Griff Taylor 7, Rhett Holbrook 14, Trey Holbrook 2, Drew Smith 3.

Harlan County 22 19 8 22 — 71
Boyd County 13 16 22 12 — 63
3-point goals: Harlan County 10 (Carmical 5, Huff 4, Noah 1), Boyd County 9 (Hicks 4, Holbrook 4, Spurlock 1)