“A team that can’t hit free throws in March is like a dog that chases cars. Neither one is going to last very long.”
Bobby Keith
MANCHESTER — Clay County’s legendary coach was one of the best in Kentucky history. So good, in fact, that the gymnasium at the high school where he coached from 1970 to 1999 is named in his honor.
One of his most famous lines focused on the dangers of missing free throws. It was a truth that the youthful Harlan County Lady Bears learned Saturday during the Donnie Gray Shootout as they missed 15 of 29 free throws in a 55-42 loss at Clay County.
Harlan County played even for a half with a 22-all score at the break, but HCs inability to hit free throws and success getting the ball inside helped the Lady Tigers take control.
“You can’t go on the road and expect to beat anybody when you miss 15 free throws,” Harlan County coach Gary Greer said. “We dug ourselves and forced to gamble and do things we’re not very good at right now. If we make the free throws, we don’t have to do those things. I thought our press gave them some problems. They took some quick shots, but then we didn’t get the rebound on the back side. Little things like that really cost you.”
Seventh-grade guard Maci White led the 14-10 Lady Tigers with 16 points. Sophomore Madison Pendland added 14 points. Sophomore center Carly Fultz added 11 points and 19 rebounds.
“I thought we were settling too much in the first half,” Clay County coach Gemma Gray said. “We had a huge height advantage, but we weren’t attacking. We wanted to use our height. We knew they could shoot and were fast, but we wanted to finish around the rim.”
Freshman guard Kylee Runions scored 15 points to lead the 7-17 Lady Bears. Jaycee Simpson and Taylynn Napier added eight each.
Clay led 15-12 after one quarter, but the Lady Bears fought back in the second quarter to pull even at the break. The Lady Tigers missed 16 of 18 shots in the second quarter.
“It was a physical game and once we started making moves and going to the basket we did a.lot better job in the second quarter,” Greer said. “We played a lot better.”
White heated up in the third quarter with three baskets as the Lady Tigers started to pull away, building a 40-31 lead. Harlan County got as close as eight with 5:38 left but missed seven of 10 at the line as Clay closed the game with a 6-1 run.
After losing 20 games last year, the Lady Tigers are one of the region’s most improved teams this season.
“We have a lot of younger girls playing, but these girls have really worked hard and bought into what we’re doing,” Gray said. “They have a little confidence now, and that makes a big difference. They are a great group and work really hard.”
Harlan County plays host to Knott Central on Tuesday and travels to Middlesboro on Wednesday.
