LOG MOUNTAIN — When Middlesboro took a two-point lead on three Emily Lambert free throws with 6:42 left in the 52nd District Tournament finals Thursday, Bell County coach David Teague knew it was time get the ball inside and capitalize on the 6-foot-3 difference maker he has in the post.
Kairi Lamb, the Lady Cats’ senior center, was the first, second and only option on the next three possessions. She scored with 6:17 left on a layup, then took a lob pass and scored with 5:10 to play and then added two free throws with 4:44 left for a four-point lead that Middlesboro was never ever able to overcome as Bell won its sixth district title in seven years with a 44-40 victory Thursday.
“She’s player of the year in the region for a reason,” Teague said. “I wanted Nevaeh (Allen) controlling the ball, and we wanted to play to play through Kairi. She didn’t play that well on offense for a while, but she got going at the end when we really needed her.”
Freshman Brylee Redmond, who played a huge role defensively against Middlesboro star Emily Lambert, added a basket for a six-point lead with 3:44 left. Lambert’s 3 cut the Bell advantage in half. A basket and two free throws by Millie Roberts pulled Middlesboro within one with 1:11 to play. Lamb drew a foul and hit two shots for a three-point lead with 45.7 seconds left. Lamb blocked a Morgan Martin shot with 17 seconds left but Middlesboro got the ball back. Addyson Larew’s potential tying 3 was off the mark in the closing seconds before Lamb hit one of at the line with seven-tenths of a second to play to clinch the win.
After being upset by Harlan County in the first round of last year’s district tournament, the Lady Cats posted an unbeaten mark against district competition this season.
“I told the kids today we won several of these in a row before losing in the first round last year,” Teague said. “We wanted to get back on track, and I felt we had an opportunity tonight, and I’m proud of the kids for getting it done.”
Lambert scored 17 to lead the 14-12 Lady Jackets but had to battle for shots against a fierce Bell defense focused on her.
“We had a couple of kids on her. Lyla Scearse, Bristal Jordan and Brylee Redmond all did a good job chasing and face guarding those girls,” Teague said. “That’s what we were trying to do.”
Even though she carried the Bell offense, Lamb was kept under control most of the night by Trinity Derossett and Addison Lucas.
“I was really proud of Trinity Derossett. She gave all she had and left it on the floor,” Middlesboro coach Sally Adams said. “She fronted her and played her on the perimeter because we know she can shoot. I was proud of them defensively.”
“They battled. They guarded well, and I knew they would,” Teague said. “We prepared our kids the last couple of days that they would be ready to play. I thought our kids battled as well. We held them to 40, and that’s a testament to the kids buying in on the defensive end of the floor.”
Middlesboro broke a 15-year district losing stream with a win over Harlan County on Monday and almost earned its first district title since 2009.
“Bell is a great basketball team, and I told them if we can compete with them we can compete with anybody,” Adams said. “We don’t want to hang our hats on getting to the region. We want to compete.”
Scearse hit a couple of early 3s as Bell took an 8-3 lead. Middlesboro fought back to tie the game at 8 and 10 before two free throws each from Lamb and Allen put the Lady Cats up 14-10 after one quarter.
Lamb hit three of three shots in the second quarter while Middlesboro missed 10 of 14 shots to help Bell go up 27-21 at halftime.
Lambert connected on three straight shots of her own in the third period as the Lady Jackets cut the deficit to 31-30 heading to the fourth quarter.
Both teams advance to the 13th Region Tournament next week at The Corbin Arena.

GIRLS 52nd District Championship
2026 Bell County 44, Middlesboro 40
2025 Harlan 55, Harlan County 47
2024 Bell County 60, Harlan 54
2023. Bell County 48, Harlan County 44
2022 Bell County 53, Harlan County 38
2021 Bell County 62, Harlan County 55
2020 Bell County 52, Harlan County 51
2019 Harlan County 71, Bell County 50
2018 Harlan County 71, Harlan 35
2017 Harlan County 81, Harlan 72
2016 Harlan 75, Harlan County 56
2015 Bell County 68, Harlan 54
2014 Bell County 68, Harlan 56
2013 Bell County 54, Harlan County 48
2012 Harlan County 52, Bell County 37
2011 Harlan 60, Middlesboro 48
2010 Harlan County 40, Bell County 31
2009 Middlesboro 48, Harlan County 39
2008 Middlesboro 73, Harlan 37
2007 Harlan 87, Cawood 77
2006 Bell County 52, Middlesboro 48
2005 Cumberland 54, Harlan 42
2004 Cawood 61, Evarts 49
2003 Cawood 50, Cumberland 45
2002 Cawood 77, Harlan 59
2001 Cawood 56, Harlan 49
2000 Harlan 62, Cawood 55
1999 Harlan 49, Cawood 40
1998 Harlan 58, Cumberland 55
1997 Harlan 62, Cawood 46
1996 Harlan 67, Evarts 52
1995 Cawood 72, Evarts 44
1994 Cumberland 51, Evarts 47
1993 Cumberland 43, Cawood 42
1992 Cumberland 72, Harlan 42
1991 Cumberland 70, Cawood 48
1990 Cumberland 64, Evarts 53
1989 Cumberland 53, Evarts 51
1988 Evarts 45, Cawood 43
1987 Cumberland 45, Harlan 41
1986 Cawood 52, Cumberland 45
1985 Cumberland 53, Harlan 51
1984 Cumberland 46, Harlan 38
1983 Cawood 35, Cumberland 32
1982 Cawood 40, Harlan 36
1981 Cumberland 44, Cawood 43
1980 Cawood 47, Harlan 35
1979 Cawood 69, Cumberland 48
1978 Cawood 53, Cumberland 33
1977 Cawood 66, Cumberland 35
1976 Cawood 36, Evarts 23
1975 Lynch 24, Harlan 15