LOG MOUNTAIN — Bell County completed an unbeaten regular season sweep of 52nd District opponents in a win Tuesday over visiting Harlan County. But for the first time in six games, it wasn’t easy.
After sweeping through their first five district games by an average of over 37 points per game, the Bobcats were clinging to a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter against a Harlan County team they blew out 78-40 on Jan. 28 at HCHS.
The Bell defense held the Bears to three-of-11 shooting in the fourth quarter, and the Bobcats hit seven of eight at the free throw line over the last four minutes to win 54-47.
Senior guard Blake Burnett hit the last four free throws and finished with 21 points to lead the 19-5 Bobcats. Junior forward Ethan Buell added 15 points.
Reggie Cotttrell, who missed most of the previous Bell game after suffering a head injury in the first quarter, led all scorers with 24 points.
“We got outplayed tonight, for whatever reason,” Bell County coach Brad Sizemore said. “I don’t know if it’s because we’ve played too many games in a short period of time, but that’s a huge excuse we’re not going to make. Harlan County came in here and wanted this game more than us. Luckily, our guys responded and woke up to make enough plays to pull it. It’s disappointing we didn’t play the way we’re capable of playing. I give Harlan County credit. Only good I see out of tonight is I hope it wakes us up and we learn we’re only as good as our last game. We have to show up ready to play.”
“I thought we played hard. I told them in the locker room there are no moral victories,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said, “We’ve been streaky all year with our effort and our shooting, but we have a couple of weeks and we have to be laser focused the rest of the way. We’ve got a chance to still win 20 regular season games. If we could have hit a few more shots tonight, we may have been able to pull this one off. Bell knows how to win. They are an experienced team and made some plays down the stretch.”
Cottrell hit five of six shots in the opening quarter as led by as many as five points, including an 18-14 advantage at the end of the period.
The lead changed hands several times in the second quarter with a 3 by Jaxon Thomas putting the Bobcats up 24-20. Trent Cole and Brennan Blevins each scored to tie the game at 24-24 heading into the break.
Bell scored the first five points of the second half, but the Bears would not go away. Cottrell’s 3 with 47 seconds left in the period tied the game at 35-35 before Buell hit one of two at the line to put Bell up by one.
Buell hit a 3 to open the fourth quarter as Bell went on an 11-5 run to go up 47-40. Brady Smith hit two free throws and Blevins followed with a basket before Cole hit one of two at the line to cut the deficit to two with just over a minute left. A basket by Buell and four free throws from Burnett helped Bell put the game away.
Harlan County plays host to Pineville on Thursday in its final home game. Bell County plays at Perry Central on Friday.