By Bill Templeton
Sports Writer
The Harlan girls basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end Monday, dropping a lopsided 79-41 decision to visiting Knox Central.
Knox Central sophomore Shelbie Mills knocked down six 3-point shots, finishing with a game-high 32 points, while 5-foot-11 senior Halle Collins chipped in with 22 points to lead the Lady Panthers to their 10th consecutive win.
Senior guard Aymanni Wynn led an ice-cold Harlan offensive attack with 12 points, and freshman Peyshaunce Wynn added 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, for the Lady Dragons.
Mills was on fire through the first eight minutes of the game with a 14-point effort that included a pair of baskets from behind the 3-point arc.
Harlan (15-12) kept things close through the first 4+ minutes of the contest, before Knox Central switched to a half-court trap that frustrated the Lady Dragons and allowed the visitors to reel off the final 11 points en route to a 24-11 lead after one quarter.
Mills added a pair of 3-point baskets, plus a free throw, during the early stages of the second quarter to cap what ended as a 16-0 scoring run by Knox Central.
Knox Central led by as many as 26 points, 41-15, and took a 45-24 lead by halftime.
Following a quiet first two quarters, Collins asserted herself at the offensive end during the third quarter. Collins scored 13 points during the stanza and Knox Central led, 65-34 heading into the final eight minutes of the contest.
After going scoreless during the third quarter, Mills caught fire, again during the early stages of the fourth quarter, draining a pair of 3-point shots on consecutive possessions to stake Knox Central to a 75-39 lead and start a running scoreboard clock.
Knox Central (21-4) collected 13 offensive rebounds during the contest and committed just six turnovers over the final three quarters.
Harlan is back in action at home Tuesday against Leslie County, while Knox Central plays at Whitley County on Thursday.
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Knox Central 79, Harlan 41
KNOX CENTRAL (21-4) — Shelbie Mills 32, Halle Collins 22, Maggie Gibson 8, Zoey Hamilton 5, McKenzie Hensley 4, Hannah Melton 4, Kelsie Smith 3, Miley Olmstead 0, Kaylynn Smith 0, Sydney Hurst 0, Kendall Williamson 0, Maggie Gibson 0.
HARLAN (15-12) — Aymanni Wynn 12, Peyshaunce Wynn 11, Kylie Noe 5, Abbi Fields 2, Raegan Goodman 1, Cheyanne Rhymer 10, Clarissa Yost 0, Shelby Doan 0.

Knox Central 24 21 20 14– 79
Harlan 11 13 10 7 — 41