An 11-0 run to end the first quarter and an 11-0 run to start the second were more than enough to help the Harlan Lady Dragons end a three-game skid as they coasted to a 75-42 victory Saturday afternoon over visiting Clay County.
After seven early lead changes, Harlan took control late in the first quarter and then pulled away in the second by forcing 11 Clay turnovers.
“Our defense looked pretty good today,” Harlan coach Mackenzie King Varner said. “We’re really focusing on getting back to the fundamentals of defense, and when we do we play really good ball. We’re working on it being a priority.”
Harlan ended its toughest week of the season with the win after opening with a hard-fought overtime loss Monday at Harlan County. The Lady Dragons fell to Pikeville on Thursday in the state All “A” Classic and then lost Friday night at home against Knox Central.
“It was a big week for us, and we had a lot of really big games,” Varner said. “We needed to play some really good teams, and I think it exposed some of our weaknesses and we’re ready to fix them.”
Junior forward Kylie Noe owned the paint against Clay as she hit 10 of 15 shots in a 22-point effort. Peyshaunce Wynn added three 3-pointers in scoring 13 points. Emma Owens and Aymanni Wynn added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Senior guard Sidney Jones scored 21 points and freshman guard Madison Penland added 13 for the 6-15 Lady Tigers, who appear to be headed toward the worst season in school history.
Jones had three early baskets for the Lady Tigers as the lead alternated until Noe sparked a Harlan run by hitting four straight shots to put Harlan up 23-11 after one quarter. Aymanni Wynn and Addison Campbell had two baskets each in the second quarter as the Lady Dragons stretched their advantage to 41-20 at halftime.
Not hit four of five shots in the third quarter as the Lady Dragons built their lead to 60-29 while Clay was missing four of 12 shots.
Reagan Goodman provided a spark off the bench in the fourth period as she pulled down six rebounds and hit three of three shots. Harlan started a running clock on a three-point play by Aymanni Wynn with 6:39 to play. Jones and Penland each had two baskets in the period for Clay.
Harlan returns to action Tuesday at North Laurel. Clay County will travel to Jackson County on Tuesday.
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Led by 28 points from junior forward Halle Collins, visiting Knox Central defeated the Lady Dragons 74-65 on Friday.
Timberly Fredrick added 13 points for the Lady Panthers. Jaylynn Faine and Hannah Melton chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Aymanni Wynn paced Harlan with 22 points. Kylie Noe tossed in 15. Emma Owens added 11.
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Knox Central (74) — Halle Collins 28, Timberly Fredrick 13, Mackenzie Hensley 6, Jaylynn Faine 12, Hannah Melton 10, Zoey Hamilton 1, Kelsie Smith 4.
Harlan (65) — Aymanni Wynn 22, Kylie Noe 15, Emma Owens 11, Peyshaunce Wynn 7, Addison Campbell 8, Addison Jackson 2.
Knox Central 21 19 16 18 — 74
Harlan 17 9 18 21 — 65
3-point goals: Knox Central 8 (Fredrick 3, Collins 2, Faine 2, Hensley 1), Harlan 8 (A. Wynn 4, Campbell 2, Owens 1, P. Wynn 1.