Seniors Kylie Noe and Aymanni Wynn combined for 53 points Tuesday night to lead the Harlan Lady Dragons to a 62-54 52nd District girls basketball victory over host Middlesboro.
It marked a second straight win by Harlan over the Lady Jackets in the past 12 days.
Noe scored 28 of her game-high 29 points during the final three quarters, while Wynn torched the nets for six 3-point baskets en route to 24 points. Wynn also blocked five shots to help Harlan improve to 13-11.
Middlesboro (10-9) got 16 points from freshman Emily Lambert. Senior Keevi Betts and sophomore Millie Roberts each scored 11 points
Wynn and Lambert staged a first-quarter shootout that kept the game close through the early stages. Wynn knocked down three triples, while Lambert countered with two, and Harlan led 14-12 after eight minutes had elapsed.
Enter Noe.
After scoring her 2,000th career point against Middlesboro in the team’s win at home, Noe scored the final nine Harlan points of the half and the Lady Dragons led 26-25 at the intermission.
Middlesboro junior Addison Lucas scored from close range early in the third quarter to tie the score at 27-27, but six straight points by Noe and a 3-point bomb by Wynn helped Harlan reestablish control, 37-32.
Harlan built its largest lead at 45-36 following three straight fourth-quarter baskets by Noe, but the Lady Jackets refused to quit.
Two triples by Roberts and four points, apiece, from Betts and Lambert cut the Harlan lead to 53-50 with less than two minutes remaining, before Wynn drained her sixth 3-point shot of the game to extend the lead to six.
A clutch three-point play by Middlesboro sophomore Morgan Martin made it 57-54 with 43 seconds remaining, but Noe and freshman Peyshaunce Wynn combined for five free throws during the final minute to seal the fate of the Lady Jackets.
Next up for Harlan is a game Thursday at Pineville, while Middlesboro travels Wednesday to Harrogate, Tenn., to face J. Frank Academy.
Harlan (62) — Kylie Noe 29, Aymanni Wynn 24, Peyshaunce Wynn 6, Cheyanne Rhymer 3, Abbi Fields 0, Goodman 0.
Middlesboro (54) — Keevi Betts 11, Addyson Larew 4, Addison Lucas 6, Emily Lambert 16, Trinity Derossett 3, Millie Roberts 11, Morgan Martin 3.
Harlan 14 12 13 23 — 62
Middlesboro 12 13. 9 20 — 54
