After back-to-back close losses, the Lynn Camp Wildcats put together one of their best wins of the season on Tuesday with a 67-64 victory over visiting Harlan in a rematch of the 13th Region All “A” Classic semifinal game won by Harlan.
The Wildcats used a balanced offensive attack to take down Harlan with four players scoring in double figures. Junior guard Micah Engle led the way for Lynn Camp with 22 points. Jace Boggs scored 13, while Spencer Gilbert added 12 and Gavin Allen finished with 10.
Coach Rodney Clarke said he was happy with the way his team came and played with a tremendous effort for a full four quarters.
“Our guys played with great energy tonight,” said Clarke. “It was the best we have had all year.”
The game was nip-and-tuck for the entire four quarters. Harlan shot well from behind the 3-point line in the first half, connecting on six 3s, four of which came from junior Kaleb McLendon, putting the Green Dragons ahead 35-32 at the half.
Lynn Camp tightened up its defense in the second half and it was the difference in the game. Harlan’s Jordan Akal, one of the top ranked juniors in Kentucky, hit just one field goal in all of the third and fourth quarters and finished with 11 points on the night.
Clarke said the duo of Boggs and Gilbert did a great job defending Akal, which helped their team to the win.
“Our defense was really stressed out tonight because Harlan is so explosive offensively,” said Clarke. “The job Jace Boggs and Spencer Gilbert did on Akal tonight, who is arguably one of the best players in the region, was the difference in the game tonight.”
While Boggs and Gilbert were holding it down on the defensive end, Engle put together a big fourth quarter to carry the Wildcats on offense. Engle scored eight points in the game’s final period.
Lynn Camp (7-4) will return to action on Friday at Knox Central. Harlan (7-2) will travel to Barbourville on Thursday and play host to Harlan County on Friday.
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Lynn Camp (67) — Jace Boggs 13, Luke Ledington 3, Spencer Gilbert 12, Micah Engle 22, Gavin Allen 10, Landon White 7, Elijah St. John 0.
Harlan (64) — Jordan Akal 11, Kyler McLendon 4, Will Austin 12, Kaleb McLendon 22, Jaedyn Gist 14, Johann Gist 1, John Mark Bryson 0, Matt Pennington 0.

Harlan 15 20 12 17 — 64
Lynn Camp 16 16 15 20 — 67