The Harlan County Lady Bears survived an eight-minute drought in the first quarter when they were outscored 12-0.
They survived a five-minute drought in the third quarter when they were outscored 9-0.
They survived a six-minute drought in the fourth quarter when they were outscored 10-0.
Even with all that, the Lady Bears found a way to take a 41-40 lead with 2:03 left in the game Friday against visiting Knott Central when freshman guard Jaycee Simpson reeled off five unanswered points in a 10-second span with a putback and then a 3-pointer off a steal.
The Lady Bears’ offense fell silent once again, and this time Knott put the game away as forward Rylee Craft scored on an out-of-bounds play with 35 seconds to play and then Dani McAlarni hit two free throws with nine seconds left after Jaylee Cochran missed a shot in the lane. Harlan County still had a chance to tie but turned the ball over on an inbounds pass to end a frustrating 45-42 loss.
Harlan County found success at times with baskets in transitions, hitting seven 3-pointers, but continued to struggle by driving too far inside at times, especially against 6-foot-3 Knott center Samara Bailey, passing up open mid-range shots only to have shots rejected at the basket.
“You have to give credit to Knott because they got up in us and guarded us, but we are just not running our offense. We weren’t moving the ball and we’re not going where we’re supposed to go,” Harlan County coach Gary Greer said. “We were holding the ball and not being aggressive, but then when we got down there we dribbled right into a 6-3 girl. I don’t know how many blocks she had — probably six of seven with other shots being altered.”
Bailey and Craft each scored 15 points and McAlarnis added 14 to account for all but one of Knott’s points on the night.
Cochran and Simpson each scored 13 points and Taylynn Napier added 11 for the 0-2 Lady Bears.
Harlan County scored the game’s first six points capped by Cochran’s 3 with 6:40 to play in the opening quarter. The Lady Bears didn’t score again for over eight minutes as Knott closed the period with a 12-0 run led by two baskets from Craft and a 3 from McAlarnis to end the period.
Simpson ended the HC drought with a jumper at the 6:14 mark, then added a basket off a turnover. Cochran followed with another basket off a steal followed by Napier’s 3 for a 15-12 lead. McAlarnis pulled Knott even as the game was tied at 15, 17 and 19 before Reagan Clem closed the half with a 3 that gave the Lady Bears a 23-19 lead at the break.
Cochran reeled off five points to open the second half as the lead grew to eight. Knott responded with nine straight points, but Napier hit two 3s and Cochran added one as the Lady Bears built a 36-30 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Harlan County tried to spread the floor with a lead in the final period but lost its rhythm once again and could manage only the two baskets by Simpson in 13 shots.
“It’s still early in the season, and I felt we let one get away, but give credit to Knott because they guarded us very well,” Greer said. “We had too many breakdowns on defense even though we gave up only 45 points. We also didn’t run the play right at the end even after two timeouts. There’s no excuses anymore. We have girls with some experience now. Somebody has to want the ball in a situation like that and not run from it.”
Harlan County returns to action Tuesday at South Laurel.
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Eighth-grade guard Taylynn Napier scored 17 points and freshman forward Raegan Landa added 12 as Harlan County won 42-37 in junior varsity action.
Kenadee Sturgill tossed in six points for the 1-1 Lady Bears. Shasta Brackett and Kelsie Middleton scored three each. Natalie Moore added one.
Jaylynn Morgan scored 10 and Bella Hammond and Avery Combs each added eight points to lead Knott Central.