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Basketball

Bears bury Scott with 3rd-quarter run for Gem City Classic victory

Huff scores 35; four Bears reach double figures

February 2, 2025

Harlan County junior guard Brennan Blevins passed out of a trap during an 84-61 win Saturday over Scott County in the Gem City Classic at Pineville.

Harlan County 84, Scott County 61

HARLAN COUNTY (17-6)
Trent Cole 3-9 2-2 11, Maddox Huff 12-25 5-5 35, Brody Napier 5-8 2-2 15, Brady Smith 2-3 0-0 4, Jaycee Carter 5-7 0-0 12, Brennan Blevins 0-0 0-0 0, Reggie Cottrell 2-8 0-0 5, Kaden Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Tucker Curtis 0-0 0-0 0, Landon Brock 0-2 0-2 0, Cole Cornett 0-0 0-0 0, Bryson Bryant 0-0 2-2 2, Brady Freeman 0-0 0-0 0, Hayden Grace 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 29-62 11-13 84.
SCOTT COUNTY (5-15)
Phillip Grimes 3-17 0-0 7, Montae Washburn 2-6 0-0 5, Colton Helton 2-10 0-0 4, Xyler Wray 1-7 0-0 2, Ben Glenn 0-2 0-0 0, Preston Luckett 2-4 4-6 8, Anderson Owens 3-6 10-13 16, Ryder Horn 0-0 1-2 1, Timmy Emongo 2-8 0-0 4, Tristan Christopher 5-8 0-1 12, Reed Rutledge 0-1 0-0 0, Auden Tolbert 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 21-70 15-20 61.

Harlan County 21 21 26 16 — 84
Scott County 13 17 7 24 — 61
3-point goals: Harlan County 15-27 (Huff 6-12, Napier 3-3, Cole 3-7, Carter 2-3, Cottrell 1-2), Scott County 4-19 (Christopher 2-5, Washburn 1-2, Grimes 1-4, Wray 0-1, Luckett 0-1, Owens 0-1, Horn 0-1, Emongo 0-1, Helton 0-3), Rebounds: Harlan County 44 (Carter 16, Huff 10, Napier 8, Cole 4, Smith 2, Blevins 2, Cottrell 1, Cornett 1), Scott County 31 (Luckett 8, Owens 7, Grimes 5, Wray 5, Helton 2, Horn 1, Emongo 1, Christopher 1, Tolbert 1), Turnovers: Harlan County 10, Scott County 5. Fouled out: None.

PINEVILLE — Once a powerhouse with multiple state titles under Harlan County native Billy Hicks, the Scott County Cardinals have found the going tough this season in the always brutal 11th Region. Scott traveled to the mountains Saturday for the Gem City Classic in Pineville to face a Harlan County squad coming off its own run to the state finals last March.
Scott County stayed in the game until the Black Bears went on a 26-7 run in the third quarter that featured six 3-pointers. Harlan County led by as many as 33 points down the stretch on the way to an 84-61 victory.
“We had a rough first half. We scored, but we didn’t guard well,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “I felt the third quarter we clamped down and started playing defense like we’re capable, It always helps when you’re making shots. Scott County doesn’t have a great record, but they are athletic and get after you. Plus, they play really good competition. I knew they wouldn’t be intimidated. I thought we responded well the second half.”
Senior guard Maddox Huff hit six of the Bears’ 15 3-pointers and finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds. Brody Napier hit all three of his 3s and aded 15 points. Jaycee Carter added 12 points and 16 rebounds. Trent Cole chipped in with 11 points.
Sophomore guard Anderson Owens led the 5-15 Cardinals with 16 points.
Hutt had three baskets in the opening quarter while Carter added two along with six rebounds as the Bears took a 21-13 lead. Huff hit three shots and Napier added two in the second quarter as the lead grew to 42-30 at the break.
After an early Xyler Wray basket to start the second half cut the deficit to 10, but then Huff, Reggie Cottrell and Cole turned out the lights on Scott’s hopes as each hit treys in a 16-0 run that put the game away.
Harlan County added four more 3s early in the fourth quarter as the Bears hit five of six shots to push the lead to 82-49 before Jones emptied his bench with four minutes left.
The Black Bears will play host to Bell County on Tuesday in a girls/boys district doubleheader.

Harlan County sophomore guard Trent Cole brought the ball up the court against Scott County’s Tristan Christopher in Saturday’s game at Pineville. Cole scored 11 points in the Bears’ 84-61 win. (John Henson)

About the Contributor

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.