ONEIDA — As the last remaining member of the 2023 Harlan squad that won the last of four straight regional All “A” Classic titles, senior guard Dylan Cox knows how much the state small school tournament means to his school and program.
After winning only nine games over the past two seasons, the Dragons are working to get back to the success of a few years earlier, beginning with ending a two-year drought in the All “A” Classic. Cox did his part to get back to state competition again as he scored 11 points in a 27-9 run between the first and second quarters that broke open a tie game and sent Harlan to an 80-65 victory over Jackson County in a quarterfinal game at Oneida Baptist Institute.
“Dylan played well and stepped up on the offensive end more tonight,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “I’m proud of how we competed on both ends of the floor. I think we played in spurts as well as we have all year.”
Sophomore center Kobe Noe had another big game for the 5-8 Dragons with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Cox added 21 points and found Noe for several assists as he broke down the Jackson defense. Izack Saylor chipped in with 14 points.
Junior center Joona Holm led the 10-5 Generals, who entered the game on a four-game winning streak, with 14 points. Brennan Combs and Tansen Truitt scored 13 each. Ashton Clemons added 11.
The game was tied at 11 midway through the first quarter when Cox and Saylor had baskets in a 13-5 run that put Harlan up 24-16.
Cox converted a three-point play, then Saylor hit a 3 before Legend Mimes turned a steal into a dunk that gave the Dragons their biggest lead at 38-20 with 4:44 left in the half. Harlan hit 19 of 31 shots in the first half and led 45-34 at th4 break.
Truitt had a couple of baskets for the Generals in the third quarter as they cut the deficit to 56-49 going into the fourth quarter.
Noe turned out the lights on the Generals in the fourth quarter, hitting four of five shots and pulling down five rebounds.
Harlan will play Barbourville on Monday at 7:30 in the semifinals.
———
In Saturday’s nightcap of the 13th Region All A” Classic, it was the Barbourville defense that allowed the Tigers to eliminate Pineville 55-41 in the quarterfinals.
Barbourville held the Mountain Lions to four points in the opening quarter and nine points in the third.
Pineville committed 15 turnovers compared to just four for the Tigers.
Freshman forward Carter Deaton powered Barbourville with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Junior guards Chase Wilder and Trace Wood, scored 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lions got 12 points from freshman guard Anderson Gentry. Senior forward Ethan Jackson scored 10.
Barbourville, now 4-7, advances to play Harlan (5-8) on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Middlesboro, which thrashed Red Bird 95-51, takes on host Oneida Baptist at 6. The 5-7 Mountaineers took down Williamsburg 84-63. Middlesboro improved to 8-6 on the season.
The championship is scheduled Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Pineville (7-6) returns to action Friday against Barbourville in a key 51st District matchup. The Lions will visit Jackson City on Saturday.
———
Pineville (41) — Jacob Grubbs 4, Preston Zachery 5, Anderson Gentry 12, Noah Slone 3, Brayden Hatmaker 3, Ethan Jackson 10, Kenton Brock 4.
Barbourville (55) — Logan Stepp 9, Noah King 3, Chase Wilder 13, Trace Wood 10, Carter Deaton 18, Landon Gross 2.
Pineville 4 11 9 17 — 41
Barbourville 10 15 16 14 — 55
3-point goals: Pineville 6 (Gentry 2, Jackson 2, Zachery 1, Slone 1), Barbourville 6 (Deaton 4, King 1, Wood 1). Turnovers: Pineville 15, Barbourville 4.
