Both the Harlan County freshman and junior varsity teams opened the season with victories Wednesday against visiting Middlesboro as the freshman team rolled to a 71-36 victory followed by a 65-35 win in junior varsity action.
Freshman guard Hayden Grace poured in 25 points in the freshman game, connecting on five 3-pointers, to lead HCHS. Brady Smith contributed 12 points. Tucker Curtis and Thyler Coots played well in the post, scoring eight points each. Rydge Lewis added seven. Kaden Jones chipped in with four. Dyson Freeman, Josiah Smith and Hayston Hensley scored two each. Ryan Day added one.
Caden Lawson, an eighth grader, led Middlesboro with 15 points. Ayden Allen scored nine. Emmitt Butler tossed in six. Jacob Tinnel and Nathan Nichols added three each.
Cole Cornett, a sophomore guard, led HCHS in the junior varsity game with 13 points. Jones scored 11. Bryson Bryant tossed in 10. Landon Brock added nine, followed by Brady Freeman with eight, Grace with five, Smith with four, Hensley with three and Day with two.
Jammy Lin led Middlesboro with 11 points. TInnel scored seven. Lawson and Butler added five each. Garrison Warren scored three. Bryson Heck and Anthony Miracle added two each.