LOG MOUNTAIN — Harlan County coach Gary Greer may send a card when Bell County senior Kairi Lamb graduates in May. The 6-foot-3 senior center has made life difficult for all 52nd District teams over the past four years, and that was never more evident than Tuesday in her 21-point, 15-rebound night in a 52-41 win over the visiting Lady Bears.
Harlan County fought back from an eight-point deficit to pull even at 28-all at halftime and led by two early in the third quarter. That was when Lamb took control, hitting eight straight shots in the second half as the Lady Cats took control.
“I’ll be glad to see her graduate. She is a really good player and has had an outstanding career,” Greer said. “My girls are 5-8 and 5-7 and they were doing all they could with her. She’s a dominant player. We cut it to six late and blocked her out but she was able to reach over and grab it. If we get that rebound, who knows.”
“We tried to get the ball in there the second half. That’s where we have to play through,” Bell County coach David Teague said. “I got on them at halftime about as hard as I have all year for not executing the game plan. We did much better offensively and defensively the second half.”
Senior guard Nevaeh Allen added 21 points, hitting five 3-pointers in the first half to carry the Bell offense and keep them in the game when Harlan County made its run.
“We didn’t get very comfortable in the first half on the offensive end of the floor,” Teague said. “I told them at halftime that if Nevaeh hadn’t been making some shots we’d be in a tough spot. Luckily, she was making some shots.”
“We got mixed up several times on the overload, and she hit shots in the first half,” Greer said of Allen. “They have two outstanding players.”
Sophomore guard Kylee Runions came off the bench to lead the 11-11 Lady Bears with 14 points as she hit six of seven shots in the first half. Jaycee Simpson added eight points.
Allen hit four straight shots, including three 3s, as the Lady Cats took a 17-14 lead after one quarter. Runions led the Lady Bears with four baskets.
Allen’s fourth and fifth treys pushed the Bell lead to 25-18 with 5:23 left in the half. The Lady Bears fought back behind Taylynn Napier, Raegan Landa and unions in an 8-0 that helped HC pull even at the break.
Reagan Clem gave Harlan County a brief lead in the second half, but it was the only field goal in eight attempts for the Lady Bears in the quarter. Lamb hit four straight shots as Bell moved out to a 38-30 lead heading into the fourth period.
A 3 by Simpson and basket by Cochran pulled the Lady Bears within six before two straight baskets by Lamb ended the threat.
Bell County (18-5) closes its district schedule Thursday at Middlesboro. Harlan County will play at Harlan on Friday in a girls/boys district doubleheader.