If there was any chance the visiting Knott Central Patriots would overlook Harlan on Wednesday thanks to the Green Dragons’ 5-11 record, 14th Region rival Breathitt County provided a timely warning with their 98-92 loss two nights ago.
Knott Central coach Casey Huff, a Harlan High School graduate, insists that wasn’t going to happen anyway. Knott grabbed a quick 9-2 lead and stayed on top the entire night on the way to a 63-56 victory.
“We’ve really been intentional about taking it one game at a time – scout, prep, film are all the same regardless of opponent. We’re one of those teams that could lose to anybody or beat anybody, so we want to be very careful. We knew they were good. Any time you have a player like (Kyler McLendon), who can put up 40 points, they are dangerous,” Huff said. “We knew coming over here we had to create our own energy, and I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”
McLendon scored 38 to once again lead the Dragons, but Knott had two senior guards who also played well as Hunter Haddix scored 20 and Jayden Huff added 12 as the Patriots improved to 16-4 after a 13-18 finish last season.
“Our guys had baptism by fire last year and that’s one reason we’ve seen so much growth the last two seasons,” Huff said. “It was nice to be back in the school. (Superintendent) C.D. Morton does a great job, and the facilities look great.”
Haddix hit three 3s in the opening quarter while Haddix pulled down all six Knott rebounds in the period as the Patriots built a 14-6 as Harlan hit only three of 15 shots.
The Dragons continued to struggle offensively in the second quarter, connecting on four of 15 shots. Haddix had three more baskets to help the Patriots build a 27-17 halftime lead.
Trent Cole scored all nine of his points in the third quarter, hitting four straight shots, to keep Harlan in the game. The lead alternated between six and eight points most of the period as Huff carried the Knott offense with three baskets.
After missing 10 of 16 shots through the first three periods, McLendon heated up in the fourth as he hit seven of 12 shots to get Harlan as close as five on a six-point trip with three minutes left. McLendon had a steal, then drew an intentional foul. He hit two free throws, then two more after Harlan got the ball back due to the foul. Huff’s three-point play after the Patriots ran over a minute off the clock all but sealed the win.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well and that got us,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “Knott is a good and well coached team, so you have to take advantage of your opportunities and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Harlan returns to action Thursday at home against Pineville. Knott Central will play host to Wolfe County on Friday.
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Gavin Mosley, Shane Amburgey and Jaden Amburgey each scored 13 points to lead Knott Central to a 72-54 win in junior varsity action. Jaden Hall added nine for the Patriots, followed by Connor Napier and Talon Osborne with eight each, Ethan Mullins with four and Cameron Combs and Dalton Combs with two each.
Izack Saylor scored 14 while Jaxson Perry and Will Shepherd added 10 each to lead the 0-4 Dragons. Eric Evans added eight. Eli Noe contributed six. Dillon Combs and Nate Cochran added three each.