LEXINGTON — A win in the 13th Region Tournament finals last week turned what had been a good season into a great season for the Harlan County Black Bears.
A win in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday made history.
A win in the quarterfinals on Friday caught the attention of the entire state.
A win Saturday afternoon over Evangel Christian in the state semifinals has taken it all to a new level that is almost hard to believe.
“We’re in the state championship. That’s just crazy to say,” Harlan County senior guard Trent Noah said. “I give all the glory to God, and I can’t wait for tonight.”
“You have to give Harlan County credit for playing excellent defense,” Evangel coach Larry Miller said. We only shot 29 percent (15 of 51) and were outrebounded. In those two areas, we didn’t do a good job.”
Noah scored 29 points and Maddox Huff added 15 as the Black Bears improved to 34-4 and became the first Harlan County team to reach the finals since Harlan defeated Dayton in the 1944 state championship game.
Senior guard Kyran Tilley led the 31-7 Eagles, champions of the 6th Region, with 25 points. Christian Doerr, also a senior guard, added 17 points.
Harlan County raced to a 9-0 lead on a 3 by Huff followed by a four-point play and then a basket by Noah. Evangel cut the deficit ti 15-12 by the end of the quarter as Doerr reeled off seven straight points.
The lead grew up to seven early in the second quarter on consecutive baskets by Huff, but then Tilley took over as he scored 13 points in a 16-6 run that put Evangel on top by three. Noah’s 3 in the closing seconds gave the Bears a 32-30 halftime lead.
Noah, Huff and Caleb Johnson scored in a 7-2 run to start the third quarter before Tilley’s 3 with 5:30 left cut the deficit to four. Evangel didn’t score the remainder of the period as the lead grew to 43-35 on two Noah free throws and a basket by Reggie Cottrell.
“These guys just sat down and guarded,” Jones said. “It’s just determination and heart.”
Evangel made a final run when Doerr hit three of four at the line to make it 48-45. Noah found Cottrell open against the Eagles’ press for a layup that put the momentum back in the Bears’ favor. Huff and Noah each hit two free throws to put the game away.
Harlan County will play Lyon County at 7:30 for the state championship. Lyon is led by Mr. Basketball Travis Perry. Noah and Perry were both all-staters the last two years and finalists for this year’s Mr. Basketball award as the state’s top player.
“He’s a good friend of mine,” Noah said. “We’ve played in a lot of All-Star games and AAU games together. He’s a really special player. I’m excited for what he’s going to do at the next level. But I guess tonight we’re a little bit of rivals. That’s my boy. I like Travis a lot.”
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Harlan County 55, Evangel 47
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN (31-7)
Kyrain Tilley 8-22 6-7 25, Christian Doerr 5-10 5-6 17, Isaiah Chitapa 1-6 0-0 2, Davier White 0-5 0-0 0, Ben Mukadi 0-1 0-0 0, Johnny Deem 1-4 1-2 3, Brayden Trice 0-3 0-0 0, Andres Jimenez-Conway 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-51 12-15 47.
HARLAN COUNTY (34-4)
Maddox Huff 6-18 2-2 15, Trent Noah 5-13 16-18 29, Reggie Cottrell 2-4 2-3 6, Caleb Johnson 2-5 0-0 4, Jaycee Carter 0-5 0-0 0, Brody Napier 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 15-46 21-25 55.
Evangel Christian 12 18 5 12 — 47
Harlan County 15 17 11 12 — 55
3-point goals: Evangel Christian 5-25 (Tilley 3-11, Doerr 2-4, Chitapa 0-1, Djema 0-2, Trice 0-2, White 0-5), Harlan County 4-24 (Noah 3-7, Huff 1-8, Napier 0-1, Cottrell 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Carter 0-4). Rebounds: Evangel Christian 32 (Doerr 8, Mukadi 7, White 6, Djema 5, Tilley 3, Trice 1, team 2), Harlan County 38 (Noah 10, Huff 9, Johnson 5, Carter 5, Cottrell 3, Napier 3, team 2). Assists: Evangel Christian 5 (Doerr 2, Chitapa 1, Tilley 1, Trice 1), Harlan County 5 (Huff 2, Noah 1, Johnson 1, Napier 1), Turnovers: Evangel Christian 6, Harlan County 8. Fouled out: Evangel Christian (Chitapa).
