With the help of 11 3-pointers, the Harlan County Lady Bears gave Gary Greer his first win as coach in a 60-47 victory over visiting Claiborne, Tenn.
Kylee Runions and Jaylee Cochran, both freshmen, each hit four treys and finished with 21 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the 1-4 Lady Bears.
‘“The win was great because it lets the kids know their hard work is going to pay off,” Greer said. “We have played a really hard schedule and been close in a few. It lets them know we can compete, but we have to put four quarters together.”
Cochran set the tone for the afternoon by opening the game with the first of three 3-pointers in the first quarter. Runions and Taylynn Napier also had baskets as the Lady Bears built an 18-13 lead.
Whitney Noe, who led HCHS with seven rebounds, had five points in the second quarter as the Lady Bears’ advantage grew to 37-24 at the break.
“We shot it really well the first half,” Greer said. “We ran our break better and found open people. We did a better job of guarding the high post and keeping people out of the gaps.”
Runions’ three-point play early in the third quarter made the score 40-28 before Claiborne reeled off eight straight points to get within four.
The Lady Bears reclaimed control of the game midway through the fourth quarter and pulled away for the win.
Emily Buchanan and Tayleigh Stansberry scored 15 each for the 0-5 Lady Bulldogs.
Harlan County returns to action Monday at home against Johnson Central.
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Harlan County overcame a slow start to win 40-34 in junior varsity action.
Brooke Haywood scored 11 points and Vanessa Griffith added 10 to lead the 5-1 Lady Bears. Raegan Landa tossed in nine points, followed by Kenadee Sturgill and Taylynn Napier with four each and Kelsie Middleton with two.
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Harlan County (60) — Reagan Clem 7, Jaylee Cochran 14, Kylee Runions 21, Whitney Noe 5, Lacey Robinson 3, Jaycee Simpson 2, Taylynn Napier 5, Raegan Landa 3.
Claiborne, Tenn. (47) — Rhen Ware 1, Tayleigh Stansberry 15, Jaclyn Meyers 2, Emily Buchanan 15, Katie Hicks 5, Jacey Ferguson 9.
Three Pineville players teamed for 68 points as the Lady Lions pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 72-57 win Friday at Harlan County.
Junior center Rachel Howard led the Lady Lions with 30 points. Kamryn Biliter hit six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points. Ava Arnett added 18 points.
Jaycee Simpson, an eighth grade guard, came off the bench to lead Harlan County with 17 points. Jaylee Cochran and Kylee Runions added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
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Led by 22 points from eighth grader Kenadee Sturgill, the Lady Bears defeated Pineville 46-27 in junior varsity action.
Vanessa Griffith and Jaylynn Napier each scored eight points. Raegan Landa added six. Brooke Haywood scored two.
Madison Johnson led Pineville with 11 points. Clara Strange scored eight, followed by Addison Arnett with five, Hannah Abner with three and Monica Whitehead with one.
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Pineville (72) — Ava Arnett 18, Madison Johnson 4, Kamryn Biliter 20, Rachel Howard 30.
Harlan County (57) — Reagan Clem 5, Jaylee Cochran 14, Kylee Runions 11, Whitney Noe 3, Lacey Robinson 4, Jaycee Simpson 17, Taylynn Napier 3.
