Making their first visit to the state All “A” Classic in three years, the Harlan Green Dragons are going to stay a while.
Trailing 10th Region champ Nicholas Count by four points with just over three minutes left, the Dragons fought back sparked by sophomore guard Ethan Huff, who started the comeback with a 3-pointer. He followed with two more baskets sandwiched around a basket by Nicholas’ Peyton Hatton to go ahead for good. Izack Saylor’s basket off an offensive rebound pushed the lead to three with 25 seconds left.
Harlan clinched the win with a free throw with less than a second left after a Nicholas miss.
“The kids stayed in the fight and gave themselves an opportunity to win down the stretch,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “Defensively, we were better in the fourth, and Ethan carried us on the offensive end down the stretch with some big plays.”
Huff scored 17 points to lead the 8-11 Dragons. Kobe Noe and Legend Mimes chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The 14-6 Blue Jackets were led by senior forward Caiden Smith with 17 points and Hatton with 16 points. Braxton Martin and Ty Simons added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Dragons advance to take on Newport in the tournament quarterfinals on Friday.
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Harlan (64) — Ethan Huff 17, Jaxson Perry 6, Dylan Cox 8, Izack Saylor 7, Kobe Noe 14, Legend Mimes 12.
Nicholas County (60) — Peyton Hatton 16, Ty Simons 11, Caiden Smith 17, Braxton Martin 12, Preston Blake 4, Korbyn True 0, Connor Holbrook 0.

Harlan 18 16 13 17 — 64
Nicholas County 24 7 20 9 — 60