LEXINGTON — In a showdown of two of the four teams still playing on the final day of the 2024 season, 13th Region champ Harlan County met 11th Region champ Great Crossing on the first day of play in the KBC Mack, Miller and Lofton Invitational at Lexington Catholic High School.
The game lasted a little less than 15 minutes as an apparent roof leak forced a stoppage of play with Harlan County winning 32-26 with 5:13 to play in the first half.
Senior guard Maddox Huff hit a pair of 3s in the opening minute on the way to a 13-point effort. Reggie Cottrell added eight points, followed by Jaycee Carter with six, Trent Cole with three and Brody Napier with two.
The Bears shot much better than they did in an earlier 73-69 double-overtime loss to Montgomery County and did a good job holding their own inside against all-state center Malachi Moreno, the early favorite for 2025 Mr. Basketball and a big reason why Great Crossing will likely be the state’s preseason No. 1 team.
Harlan County came out ice cold against Montgomery and trailed 12-1 before Carter recorded the Bears’ first field goal almost eight minutes into the scrimmage. Cottrell and Cole sparked a comeback as the Bears took a 25-23 lead. The lead changed hands several times before Montgomery went on top 35-34 at the break.
Huff and Napier heated up in the second half as the lead changed hands several times. Montgomery led by four when Huff hit a 3, then Huff hit three of three at the line with 3.4 seconds left to send the game into the first one-minute overtime.
Montgomery led by four before baskets from Napier and Huff forced a second extra period. The Indians scored all four points in the second extra period.
Huff scored 22, Cottrell tossed in 17 and Cole added 13 for the Bears. Carter and Napier added nine and eight points, respectively.
Harlan County (8-2) will play Mason County on Saturday at 2:15 and Woodford County at 4:25.
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Bears split first two games in KBC tournament in Lexington
June 15, 2024
Harlan County guard Reggie Cottrell worked inside for two of his eight points in the Bears’ win over Great Crossing in the KBC tourney in Lexington.
Harlan County guard Maddox Huff shot over Great Crossing's Malachi Moreno in tournament action Friday. Both players were all-state selections last year and two of the top seniors in the state.
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About the Contributors
John Henson, Managing Editor
John Henson has covered sports since 1985 for the Harlan Daily Enterprise, the Cats Pause and harlancountysports.com, winning numerous Kentucky Press Association awards during that time. He also served as managing editor for 15 years and now teaches writing at Harlan County High School as part of the Gear Up program.