Bad second and third quarters were too much for Harlan to overcome, even as the visiting Knott Central Lady Patriots struggled through a five-point fourth quarter. Knott Central build a big lead in the third period by outscoring the Lady Dragons 18-2 on the way to a 61-41 victory at Harlan.
Standout eighth grade guard Dani McAlarnis scored 26 points and 6-foot-2 senior center Samari Bailey added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the 17-7 Lady Patriots, who are ranked third in the 14th Region.
Senior guard Cheyenne Rhymer paced the 6-14 Lady Dragons with 19 points. Addison Campbell and Raegan Goodman added nine points each. Sophomore guard Peyshaunce Wynn, who has been sidelined recently with an ankle injury, saw action off the bench.
Three early McAlarnis baskets helped Knott race to an 8-1 lead. Harlan trailed 14-6 when Rhymer brought Harlan back with three baskets to pull the Lady Dragons even at 16-all. A 3 by Alarms gave the Lady Patriots a 19-16 lead as the quarter ended.
With Knott up by only two midway through the second quarter, Bailey and McAlarnis reeled off 10 unanswered points to help the Lady Patriots build a 38-25 advantage by halftime.
Led by three baskets each by Bailey and Rylee Craft, Knott outscored Harlan 18-2 in the third quarter to build a 29-point lead.
Knott was scoreless for over five minutes in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Dragons could only manage six points during the drought. Campbell hit three 3-pointers in the period as Harlan outscored Knott 14-5 to cut the final deficit to 20 points.
Harlan plays host to Jackson County on Saturday at 2 p.m.