Harlan County suffered its first loss of the season on Wednesday in the first round of the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Louisville Fairdale.
Bowling Green, last year’s 4th Region runner up and one of the state’s top teams this season, jumped out to a 7-0 lead and Harlan County spent the rest of the night fighting from behind. The Black Bears pulled within one late in the third quarter but could never pull even.
M.J. Wardlow scored 25 points to lead the 6-2 Purples. Deuce Bailey and Mason Ritter scored 13 points each, while Luke Idlett added 12.
Trent Noah paced the 7-1 Bears with 20 points. Maddox Huff and Reggie Cottrell added 17 and 13 points, respectively. Jaycee Carter chipped in with 10 points.
Harlan County will face the loser of the Butler County-Trinity game on Thursday.
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Bowling Green (73) — Jace Wardlaw 2, Deuce Bailey 13, Mason Ritter 13, M.J. Wardlaw 25, Luke Idlett 12, Braylon Banks 8.
Harlan County (62) — Trent Noah 20, Maddox Huff 17, Caleb Johnson 2, Jaycee Carter 10, Reggie Cottrell 13.
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Harlan County 19 17 13 13 — 62
Bowling Green 23 16 15 19 — 73