MIDDLESBORO — With a 19-point loss last Friday at Bell County followed by a 33-point blowout Tuesday at home against Pineville, the Middlesboro Lady Jackets were in desperate need of something positive in a district battle Friday against visiting Harlan. Middlesboro answered that challenge on both ends of the floor in the opening quarter, forcing 10 Harlan turnovers while hitting four 3-pointers in building a nine-point lead on the way to a 64-52 victory.
“We did not play well at all the other day,” Middlesboro coach Sally Adams said. “We had a little chip on our shoulders. I was really proud of the girls defensively. We also had some of our own, and that’s something we have to work on, but I liked how we played defensively.”
Sophomore guard Emily Lambert scored 22 points and junior guard Millie Roberts added 19 as the Lady Jackets improved to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in district action.
Senior guard Cheyenne Rhymer and sophomore guard Peyshaunce Wynn carried the Harlan offense with 19 and 16 points, respectively. The Lady Dragons dropped to 1-7 overall with their seventh straight loss.
Harlan’s turnovers and Middlesboro’s 3-pointers combined to help the Lady Jackets dominate the opening period. Roberts hit two 3s and Lambert and Addyson Larew added one each as the Lady Jackets took an 18-9 lead.
“Seeing the ball go through the net always helps. We’ve had some games where that hasn’t happened,” Adams said. “I was really happy to see us shoot better.”
Lambert hit four of six shots in the second quarter, including two more treys, as the Lady Jackets led by as many as 12 in the second quarter. Rhymer hit four free throws in the final two minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 33-25 at halftime.
Consecutive baskets by Addison Campbell, Raegan Goodman and Rhymer pulled Harlan to within six midway through the third quarter to prompt a timeout from Adams. Middlesboro responded with baskets by Roberts and Addison Lucas to go back up by eight, at 44-36, going into the final period.
A three-point play by Wynn and a basket by Rhymer to open the fourth quarter pulled Harlan back within three, but Middlesboro bounced back again as Harlan went over four minutes without a field goal, Lambert hit a 3 and Roberts added two baskets in a 13-0 run to put the game away.
Middlesboro travels to Jellico, Tenn., on Tuesday. Harlan plays host to Jenkins on Dec, 27 at 4 p.m.