In a rebuilding season where wins have been hard to find, the Harlan County Lady Bears had to know they let one get away on Thursday in the first round of the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
The Lady Bears led by 11 against Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in the fourth quarter when the Lady Raiders took advantage of quick shots and turnovers by HCHS to force overtime before winning 51-43.
Xahara Willis scored 19 and Amiya Leach added 10 for Baylor.
HCHS was led by freshman guard Jaylee Cochran with 15 points.
Baylor pulled even at 36, but Kylee Runions put Harlan County back on top with a baskets with 59 seconds left. Jaycee Simpson hit one of two at the line for a three-point lead.
The Lady Bears took the ball inbounds under the Baylor basket in the closing seconds and tried a long pass that was intercepted. Leach hit a 3 to force overtime.
Baylor dominated the extra session, outscoring the Lady Bears 12-4.
Harlan County (1-6) returns to action on Friday at 1 against Pineville, a first-round loser to Nashville Christian, Tenn.
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Baylor School, Tenn. (51) — R. Oleksik 6, P. Thompson 11, E. Denatreo 3, L.Katalanotto 2, A. Leach 10, X. Willis 19.
Harlan County (43) — Jaylee Cochran 15, Reagan Clem 3, Whitney Noe 5, Kylee Runions 7, Lacey Robinson 5, Jaycee Simpson 5, Taylynn Napier 3.
Pineville 53, Harlan County 37
Seniors Ava Arnett and Kamryn Biliter teamed for 40 points as Pineville downed Harlan County 53-37 in the second night of play in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Eighth-grade guard Jaycee Simpson led the 1-7 Lady Bears with 10 points. Jaylee Cochran scored nine.
Harlan County will play Falkner, Miss., on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the seventh-place game. Pineville will play Clay County at 11:30 in the fifth-place game.
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Pineville (53) — Ava Arnett 25, Rachel Howard 2, Kamryn Biller 15, Madison Johnson 6, Clara Strange 5.
Harlan County (37) — Reagan Clem 2, Jaylee Cochran 9, Lacey Robinson 6, Jaycee Simpson 10, Taylynn Napier 6, Raegan Landa 2, Brooke Haywood 2.
