LOG MOUNTAIN — Keeping the ball away from 6-foot-4 Bell County senior center Kairi Lamb will be the focus for many of the Lady Cats’ opponents this season. The visiting Harlan Lady Dragons accomplished that part of the plan Tuesday on Log Mountain as Lamb was limited to five shots in the first half.
The Lady Cats, however, spoiled the strategy with seven 3-pointers in the first half. The Bell defense took over midway through the second quarter and turned a close game into a rout as Harlan was held scoreless in the third quarter on the way to a 68-38 win.
“We were a little sluggish at first. Harlan did some good things defensively and kind of got us out of rhythm,” Bell County coach David Teague said. “I told our girls we should be thankful we made some shots. We had kids step up and make some outside shots. That kept us hanging around for a while, then our defense kicked in and took over and stretched the lead out there.”
“The first 12 minutes we executed the game plan, and after that we kind of fell apart,” Harlan coach Mackenzie Varner said. “Our bigs did a really good job — Addison (Campbell), Clarissa (Yost), Cheyenne and Raegan (Goodman) all did a really good job down low and executed exactly what our plan was. We knew they could hit 3s.”
Senior guard Nevaeh Allen led the Lady Cats with 18 points. Lamb scored 15, and Aubrey Miracle added 10.
Senior guard Cheyenne Rhymer led Harlan with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Rhymer had four baskets in the opening period as Harlan stayed close, trailing by two before Allen’s 3 to close the period pushed Bell’s lead to 21-16. Rhymer’s 3 with 3:45 left in the half cut the the Bell advantage to 28-22. Raegan Goodman’s basket accounted for the only Harlan points in a 10-2 run to close the half as the Lady Cats built a 38-24 lead.
Allen and Miracle each hit three 3-pointers in the first half with the Harlan defense surrounding Lamb
“A lot of team will double her or pack it in and make other kids hit shots,” Teague said. “I tell them all the time they have to step up and shoot the ball with confidence. We had some kids step up and do that tonight.”
Harlan missed all 15 of its shots in the third quarter as Bell won the quarter 17-0, led by three baskets from Allen.
Varner said the Lady Dragons must use the loss as a learning experience.
“We know what to do and we’ll apply these next games, but this one exposed some of our weaknesses and things we need to work on,” she said.
Harlan (1-3) returns to action Thursday at home against Jackson County. Bell County (3-0) plays host to Middlesboro on Friday in another district doubleheader.