Lady Eagles place four in double figures to defeat Harlan

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With four players in double figures, visiting Leslie County rolled to a 76-52 win Saturday at Harlan.

Sophomore guard Courtney Hoskins and sophomore center Emma Napier powered the Lady Eagles with 16 points each. Napier grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Iris Napier, a sophomore guard, scored 13 points. Senior forward Emily Bowling added 10 points.

The Lady Eagles closed the first period with an 8-0 spurt and outscored the Lady Dragons 17-3 in the second quarter to take control.

“In the first half, we didn’t execute defensively,” said Harlan coach Tiffany Hamm. “I didn’t think the first quarter was so terrible, but when we started struggling offensively that second quarter, we let that dictate the defensive end a little bit.”

Leslie County coach Larry Sparks was pleased with his team’s performance.

“We got a couple of girls in early foul trouble, but that didn’t affect their minds,” he said. “They kept battling and battling, and we got out to a 10-12 point advantage. I thought we played awfully well in that second quarter.”

“I give Leslie County credit. They’ve got super quick guards and they make you pay,” said Hamm. “Our defense was so poor that first half, they didn’t have to shoot anything but right-handed layups and free throws.”

Harlan got 16 points and six rebounds from eighth-grade forward Kylie Noe. Peighton Jones and Aymanni Wynn contributed eight points apiece. Angel Wynn added seven.

The Lady Dragons outrebounded Leslie County 36-32. Aymanni Wynn pulled down 10 boards for Harlan.
 Emma Napier scored seven points and Hoskins had six as the Lady Eagles took a 22-13 lead after one quarter.

A 3-pointer by Hoskins, a jumper by Emma Napier and two free throws from Bowling pushed the lead to 29-13 with 5:47 remaining in the first half.
 Harlan didn’t score in the quarter until Jones hit a jumper at the 5:15 mark.
 Two baskets by Iris Napier and another from Bowling helped extend the lead to 20. Neither team scored the final 2:55 of the quarter.

“At halftime, they got challenged and came out in the second half with a better defensive effort, which led to a better offensive effort,” said Hamm.

Holding a 39-16 at halftime advantage, Leslie County opened the second half with 15-6 spurt.

“One of the most important times of the game is the first four minutes of the third quarter,” said Sparks. “They came and extended the lead and I’m proud of that.”

The Lady Dragons closed the third quarter with baskets from Jones and Aymanni Wynn and a 3-pointer by Scarlett Rowe.

After Leslie County pushed it to 62-31, Harlan began to connect from the field. A trey by Aymanni Wynn and jumpers from Jones and Noe made it 63-38 with 5:26 to play.
 Noe, Owens, Alli Thompson and Annie Hoskins had baskets in the closing minutes for the Lady Dragons.

Harlan (0-5) returns to action Tuesday at home against Hazard. The Lady Dragons will play host to Letcher Central on Thursday and Betsy Layne on Saturday.
 Leslie County (4-2) will play host to Knott Central on Tuesday and Estill County on Saturday.

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Emily Roark poured in 21 points as Leslie County rolled to a 52-9 win in the junior varsity game.
 Ava Napier and Eden Melton added eight points each for the Lady Eagles.

Addison Jackson led Harlan with three points. Kaylee Clark and Reagan Goodman scored two each. Carly Madden and Annie Hoskins added one each.

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Kylee Lewis fired in 19 points as the Lady Eagles posted a 61-31 win in the freshman contest.

Roark scored 14 points and Napier had 12 for Leslie County.
 Jackson once again led the Lady Dragons with 15 points. Goodman followed with six points. Clark scored four while Addison McLain added three. Carli Jo Kennedy had two points. Maliyah Washington tossed in one point