From 11 points in the first quarter to 27 in the fourth, the Harlan Green Dragons gained momentum as shots slowly began to fall in Tuesday’s district game against visiting Middlesboro.
The Green Dragons won for the third time this season against Middlesboro as they overcame a four-point halftime halftime to claim a 75-64 victory.
Izack Saylor and Legend Mimes each scored 20 points to lead the 9-13 Dragons.
“I thought we weren’t aggressive offensively, and we gave them some offensive rebounds that kept them in the game,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “We also started hitting shots. We did a better job of that the second half.
“We talked in halftime about getting the ball in transition and take the shots when you have them and they will eventually fall. Izack hit a couple of shots that kind of ignited us. Then Legend got down hill a few times and that helped the momentum.”
The 11-10 Jackets were led by senior guard Joseph Killion with 21 points. Bryson Brooks and Mekhi Young added 18 and 11 points, respectively.
Middlesboro led 13-11 after one quarter and 30-26 at halftime before the Harlan offense started to find a rhythm in the second half. Jaxson Perry, Kobe Noe and Dylan Cox each had baskets in a 7-0 run that put the Dragons up by eight. A three-point play by Mimes made the score 48-40 in the closing seconds of the period, but Killion hit two free throws, then Jacob Tinnell banked in a buzzer beater from well beyond the half court line to cut the deficit to three heading into the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer by Cox and two treys by Saylor was followed by a slam from Mimes in a 19-5 run to start the final period and push the lead to 67-50 with three minutes left.
Harlan plays host to Pineville on Friday. Middlesboro will be at home against Harlan County on Friday in a district doubleheader.
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Harlan (75) — Jaxson Perry 8, Ethan Huff 10, Izack Saylor 20, Kobe Noe 7, Dylan Cox 9, Legend Mimes 20, Braxton Rowe 1.
Middlesboro (64) — Bryson Brooks 18, Mekhi Young 11, Joseph Killion 21, Jacob Tinnell 7, Aiden Larew 4, Malachi Coots 2, Chandler Cox 1
Middlesboro 13 17 15 19 — 64
Harlan 11 15 22 27 — 75
