How does a basketball team respond a few months after winning three games in the Sweet Sixteen and playing in the state championship game?
No Harlan County team in 80 years and no 13th Region team in almost 40 experienced the challenge the Harlan County Black Bears faced heading into summer basketball action earlier this month.
Despite losing all-state guard Trent Noah and forward Caleb Johnson from last year’s starting lineup, the Bears demonstrated this summer they will be in the chase for a 13th Region repeat as they posted an 11-3 record heading into their final weekend of play in the Titans/Rockets Shootout at Shelby County and Collins high schools. All three HCHS losses were either in overtime or came down to the final minute of regulation
Several of the state’s top teams, as well as teams from out of state, will be among the 64 participating in the prestigious summer tournament. Harlan County will play Mason, Ohio, on Friday at 6 p.m. at Martha Layne Collins High School in a first-round game. South Laurel, North Laurel and Whitley County are other 13th Region teams competing in the 64-team tournament running through Sunday.