LOG MOUNTAIN — With their goal set of ending their season at Rupp Arena with a veteran squad back from last year’s 26-win campaign, the Bell County Bobcats are making it look easy only a week into the 2025-2026 campaign, following a 95-20 blowout of Williamsburg on Thursday with an 82-42 rout of visiting Harlan on Tuesday.
Bell battled through a physical first quarter with Harlan going up by one midway through the opening period before starting to pull away by the end of the period. A 20-11 lead after one quarter grew to 48-28 by halftime. The Bobcats’ defense took over in the second half as Harlan was limited to only 14 points while Bell didn’t turn the ball over once.
“I thought we got off to a rough start. They had something to do with it. They came out and played really hard,” Bell County coach Brad Sizemore said. “We adjusted late in the first quarter and started moving the ball. I thought we regrouped, and I thought our press in the third quarter was really good and we started to relax and run our offense. We have a lot of guys we can run in and out in different spots. I was pleased with it to get our district win.”
Senior guard Blake Burnett was one of three Bobcats in double figures with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ethan Buell, a junior forward, added 20 points. Junior guard Jaxon Thomas chipped in with 18 points.
Thomas took over in the second quarter, hitting four straight 3-pointers as the Bell lead grew from nine to 20 points. Buell and Burnett also added baskets as the Bobcats hit eight of 12 shots in the period.
“Jaxon is a year older and people forget he was out there playing as a freshman and sophomore the last two years. He had a great summer, and we think he can make shots. It was good to see him get going like that early tonight,” Sizemore said.
Bell opened the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run, starting a running clock with 5:16 left when Burnett hit a 3. The Bobcats outscored Harlan 15-1 as the Dragons turned the ball over eight times and missed all five shots from the field.
Sophomore guard Izack Saylor led the Dragons with 14 points and seven rebounds. Legend Mimes contributed 11 points.
“We have to learn how to compete for four quarters,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “Overall, the effort was there but not the execution. So, we just have to continue to work and improve.”
Harlan (0-3) faces another tough test Friday at home against South Laurel. Bell County (2-0) play host to Middlesboro on Friday in another district doubleheader.