HAZARD — Bouncing back from their first loss of the summer, the Harlan County Black Bears rolled to a pair of victories Friday at Perry Central with a balanced attack that included four in double figures in both scrimmages.
Senior guard Trent Noah scored 19 to lead the Bears to a 68-30 victory over Whitley County. Jaycee Carter and Maddox Huff added 15 each. Caleb Johnson tossed in 11. Reggie Cottrell scored five, while Brennan Blevin contributed two and Brody Napier added one.
Carter dominated the boards in the second scrimmage and finished with 26 points in an 81-70 win over Perry Central. Huff added 23 points, and Johnson tossed in 16. Noah scored 12 before leaving early in the second half for a college visit. Cottrell and Blevins each scored two as Cottrell went to the bench in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Harlan County wasted no time taking control in the opening scrimmage, racing to a 13-2 with the help of two early baskets by Carter. Huff hit a pair of 3s in the quarter as HCHS took a 21-8 lead.
Johnson had two baskets in the second quarter while Noah added six points as the Bears’ advantage grew to 36-15 at the break.
Carter and Noah each had two baskets in the third quarter as the Bears extended their lead to 52-22. Carter added two more baskets in the fourth period.
Perry grabbed an early 8-2 lead in the second scrimmage before Carter went to work inside as he accounted for six of the Bears’ 11 baskets to help HCHS cut the deficit to 26-23. Noah and Carter each had three baskets in the second quarter as the Bears took a 44-37 lead. Huff dominated the third quarter with 11 points as the lead grew to 60-47. Johnson and Carter teamed for seven baskets in the final period.
The Bears downed Perry Central 38-37 in freshman action and fell 48-45 to the Commodores in a junior varsity scrimmage.
Harlan County (10-1) returns to action Tuesday at Hazard.
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The Bears fell 53-49 to Danville Christian and routed Knox Central 80-55 in varsity scrimmage action Wednesday at Whitley County.