An improving Harlan County girls squad knocked off one of the 14th Regon’s top teams Monday in the Lady Commodore Christmas Classic with a 54-47 win over Breathitt County.
Freshman guards Jaycee Simpson and Reagan Clem scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the 3-4 Lady Bears.
“We were able to put a lot of pressure on the ball and force some turnovers which allowed us to get some easy baskets in transition,” Harlan County coach Gary Greer said. “When we don’t shoot the ball really good we have to win the rebound and turnover battles and we were able to do that today against a really good team.”.
Sophomore guard Lexie Combs led the 6-2 Lady Cats with 26 points.
With the game tied at 10 after one quarter, the Lady Bears built a 26-21 lead at halftime as eighth grader Taylynn Napier came off the bench to score eight points.
Simpson had eight points to lead HCHS in the third quarter as the lead stayed at five going into the final period.
Clem scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including six of six at the free throw line, to help the Lady Bears put the game away.
Harlan County will play in a tournament at Bryan Station on Saturday.
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Harlan County rolled to a 64-25 win Friday over Barbourville in the Hyden Citizens Bank Classic at Leslie County.
Reagan Clem scored 21 points and Jaycee Simpson added 17 for the Lady Bears.
Bre Engle paced the Lady Tigers with 10 points.
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Harlan County (54) — Jaylee Cochran 9, Reagan Clem 11, Jaycee Simpson 13, Whitney Noe 5, Kylee Runions 4, Taylynn Napier 9, Kenadee Sturgill 3.
Breathitt County (47) — Lexie Combs 26, Charlie Stacy 2, Macey Brown 8, Alexis Pelfrey 3, Tenley Harris 8.

Harlan County 10 16 12 16 — 54
Breathitt County 10 11 12 14 — 47
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Harlan County (64) — Reagan Clem 21, Jaycee Simpson 17, Raegan Landa 8, Taylynn Napier 5, Kylee Runions 5, Jaylee Cochran 5, Kenadee Sturgill 3.
Barbourville (25) — Layla Brock 1, Marleigh Martin 4, Bre Engle 10, Sadie Hoffman 3, K.K. Mills 6, Loren Gray 1.