In Harlan County middle school basketball records going back to 1985, no team had ever won four straight seventh- and eighth-grade county championships.
Until Thursday.
Rosspoint and coach Rob McHargue stretched their county domination to four with a 55-24 win Thursday over James A. Cawood in the tournament finals at Harlan County High School.
“I thought it was going to be a closer game. I told them at halftime how important the first two minutes of the third quarter were,” McHargue said. “You just don’t know what will happen in the tournament. We put some pressure on them and started hitting shots.”
Rosspoint raced to a 13-1 lead after one quarter, but the Trojanettes battled back to within five in the second quarter before the Lady Cats moved back out to a 23-12 halftime.
Taylynn Napier, the Lady Cats’ only eighth grader with three county championships to her credit, took over in the third quarter after being held to four points in the first half. Her 3-pointer sparked 15-2 run capped by two Crissalyn Jones baskets as the lead grew to 43-14 halftime.
Napier finished with 17 points to lead the 14-1 Lady Cats. Andrea Napier scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half as she carried the Rosspoint early in the game. Jones finished with 12 points.
“Tay can’t take it on by herself,” McHargue said. “Andrea stepped up with her shooting. Annie (Burton) was all over the place on defense but had zero fouls. By two bigs (Crissalyn Jones and Jocelyn Miracle) really stepped up, especially Crissalyn. Morgyn (Belcher) was on with her shooting tonight. Then Tay got hot the second half. They all stepped up.’
Khloe Daniels led JACES with 10 points.
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Bella Ford poured in 21 points and Emily Moore added 10 as Cawood captured third place with a 40-22 win over Evarts.
Bailey Haynes and Riley Griffith led the Lady Cats with five points each.
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Rosspoint (55) — Taylynn Napier 17, Andrea Napier 13, Annie Burton 7, Morgyn Belcher 6, Crissalyn Jones 12.
James A. Cawood (24) — Natalie Moore 5, Addy Creech 3, Khloe Daniels 10, Embry Engle 6.
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Cawood (40) — Caroline Patterson 2, Emily Moore 10, Campbell Thompson 7, Bella Ford 21.
Evarts (22) — Riley Griffith 5, Brinley Hensley 2, Bryleigh Bush 2, Anna-Kayte Clark 2, Sadie Clark 2, Sadie Daniels 4, Bailey Haynes 5.