BARBOURVILLE — When looking back on their first win of 2026, the Harlan County Black Bears probably won’t remember any highlight reel plays.
Actually, they may want to forget most of a 42-34 win on a Friday night in Barbourville, other than the fact they found a way to extend their win streak to five.
Barbourville controlled the tempo and stayed close all the way but weren’t able to finish off an upset.
“It would have (worked) if we made a few more shots,” Barbourville coach Chris Taylor said. “We had good looks. I think defensively we’re really good. We struggle with shooting and we’re probably taking too many 3s. I have a couple of freshmen who have to learn to get the ball to the rim. We need to move it to the other side of the floor and make the defense break down. When we do that, we usually get some good looks. We have to continue to get in the gym and get better at shooting the basketball because we’re pretty good at other parts of the game.”
“I’m glad we won. We didn’t play particularly well, but they had something to do with that with the style they were playing,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “I told the kids in the locker room you have to win different ways. Tonight it was a slow-paced game, and we edged it out, and I’m happy with that.”
Junior guard Trent Cole was the only player in double figures for either team as he led the 7-4 Bears with 18 points on five of 10 from behind the 3-point line. Senior guard Reggie Cottrell was fighting through illness and was held to nine points, but he came through with the game on the line by scoring the final five points of the night after Barbourville had closed to within three with 1:10 left after baskets by Noah King and Chase Wilder.
“The last few games we’ve shot a lot of free throws and got to the rim and scored,” Jones said. “I’m not making excuses, but Reggie wasn’t feeling well, and we also played without Brady (Smith). Reggie hit some big shots down the stretch. This was a tough place to play when we came down here a few years ago. We’ll get better though. This is five wins in a row for us, and I’m tickled with that.”
Logan Stepp scored nine, and Wilder added eight to lead the 2-7 Tigers, who lost their top returning player (senior forward Eathan Fisher) to a preseason knee injury.
A couple of early 3s by Cole put HC up 8-6 before Wilder sparked a 6-0 run with two baskets to help the Tigers take a 10-8 lead after one quarter.
Barbourville pushed its lead to four on an Ian Ross basket early in the second period. It was the last basket of the half for the Tigers, who missed seven of eight shots. The Bears weren’t much better, hitting three of 11 attempts, but managed to take a 16-12 lead at the break on 3s by Cole and Kaden Jones even though neither team scored the final five minutes of the half.
A couple of early 3s by Cole to open the second half gave the Bears some breathing room. Landon Brock also hit a 3, and Cottrell converted three of three free throws to give HCHS a 32-21 lead heading into the final period.
King, Stepp and Wilder
Harlan County returns to action Saturday at Bell County in the 2A Section 7 Tournament, taking on Whitley County at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. Barbourville travels to Williamsburg on Monday.
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Sophomore center Tucker Curtis scored 17 points and eighth grade guard Trey Creech added 13 as Harlan County pulled away in the second half for a 45-32 win in junior varsity action.
Tyhler Coots tossed in nine points for the 3-3 Bears. Easton Engle and Rydge Lewis added four and two points, respectively.
J.R. Cole led Barbourville with 10 points. Noah Gross scored seven, followed by Braxton Lewis with five, Landon Gross with four and Carson Wilder and Evan Sizemore with three each.