MIDDLESBORO — Intimated and ineffective with only 12 points in the first half Friday, the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets appeared headed toward a running clock loss against visiting Harlan.
Still down 17 early in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets found some momentum when sophomore Harlan center Kobe Noe went to the bench with his fourth foul and responded with a 21-6 run to get as close as two before the Dragons held on to secure a 64-62 district win.
“It was two different teams for us. We were more composed the first half and had more discipline,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “The second half we went the other direction. We talked at halftime about not turning the ball over and not giving up offensive rebounds and open 3s. They got uncontested 3s, offensive rebounds, and we put them on the free throw line.
“That momentum started to kick in the second half when they made a few 3s and got the crowd behind them, The next thing you know you’re in a dog fight. Our inexperience showed up at the guard position, and I thought they did a good job getting back in the game. They started hitting shots they missed the first half.”
Sophomore guard Izack Saylor hit three 3-pointers in the opening three minutes and finished with a team-high 22 points. Noe, who set the tone for the first half with blocks on the Jackets’ opening two possessions, added 20 points. Junior forward Legend Mimes came off the bench to save the Dragons down the stretch with a 14-point, nine rebounds night.
Senior guard Joseph Killion led the 6-3 Yellow Jackets with 32 points as he sparked the second-half comeback with four 3-pointers. Bryson Brooks and Mekhi Young added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
“They battled hard and played hard. Last year, I think they would have quit, laid down and got beat by 40 or 50,” said Middlesboro coach Eddie Gilbert II. “I’m extremely proud of how hard they battled.”
Saylor led the Dragons’ fast start but both offenses went cold and combined to hit only five of 28 shots as Harlan led 11-5. Noe had four baskets in the second quarter and Mimes added two as the Dragons stretched their lead to 30-12 by halftime as Middlesboro hit only four of 28 shots from the field.
“I think we got rattled when they blocked shots,” Gilbert said. “Once they settled down and played they did all right. They are going to be all right. I think they have a little confidence now.”
Offenses for both sides picked up in the third quarter as the Jackets won the period 23-22 with the help of three 3s from Killion and three baskets by Brooks. Saylor had four baskets to help Harlan stay in control.
Noe picked up his third foul midway though the third quarter and sat out the remainder of the period, He picked up foul number four only seconds into the fourth period and sat again.
Young and Killion each had three baskets in the fourth quarter as Middlesboro stormed back, cutting the deficit to 58-56 with 3:12 left on a basket by Killion. Noe and Mimes pushed the lead back to six before Anthony Miracle and Young answered for Middlesboro. Brooks missed a potential tying 3 with 14 seconds left before Jaxson Perry sealed with win by hitting two free throws with 11.7 seconds to play for a four-point lead. Killion had a steal and basket as time expired for the final margin.
“It’s a district win on the road, and I’ve been doing this long enough to take my wins,” Akal said.
The 2-4 Dragons play Rockcastle County on Friday in the first of three games for Harlan at the Dribble Drive Challenge at South Laurel. The 6-3 Jackets play Letcher Central on Saturday in the BSN Borderline Classic at Whitley County.