Dragons win twice as Akal joins 2,000-point club
Harlan closes tourney by rallying past Broncos
December 23, 2021
Harlan bounced back from a loss in the opening round of the Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge at South Laurel with a pair of victories on Wednesday. The Green Dragons rolled past Rockcastle County 78-58 and then edged Rockcastle County 61-55 in overtime to improve to 5-4 on the season.
Jordan Akal scored 25 points in the win over Rockcastle County and became only the sixth member of the 2,000-point club at Harlan High School in the process. Jaedyn Gist contributed 19 points. Will Austin and Kyler McLendon added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Daniel Mullins led the 5-6 Rockets with 13 points.
Akal scored 21 and Austin added 20 in the win over Rowan County. Gist tossed in 15, all but two in the first half.
Chase Alderman led the 4-6 Vikings with 22 points.
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The Dragons earned their most impressive win of the tournament on Thursday, rallying from a 13-point deficit after one quarter to down Frederick Douglass 80-74.
Harlan trailed 50-36 at halftime but cut the deficit to seven after three quarters and outscored the Broncos 22-9 in the fourth quarter.
Akal poured in 32 for the Dragons. Gist tossed in 19, followed by Kaleb McLendon with 17 and Kyler McLendon with 10.
Weston Pentecost and Tylon Webb each scored 16 to lead the 4-7 Broncos.
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Harlan (78) — Jordan Akal 25, Kyler McLendon 11 Will Austin 12, Kaleb McLendon 8, Jaedyn Gist 19, Matthew Pennington 2, Johann Gist 1, Derek Pruitt 0, Nate Monanaro 0, Kelson Napier 0, Tristan Burgan 0.
Rockcastle County (58) — Daniel Mullins 13, Drew Hopkins 6, Reese Coguer 9, Matthew Chasteen 6, Skyler Durham 3, Walker Craig 4, Kaden Kidwell 2, Brody Dunaway 8, Jake Sanders 7.
Rockcastle County 13 15 17 13 — 58
Harlan 25 11 19 23 — 78
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Harlan (61) — Jordan Akal 21, Kyler McLendon 5, Will Austin 20, Kaleb McLendon 0, Jaedyn Gist 15.
Rowan County (55) — Weston Maxey 4, Slade Ingles 8, Cody Collins 8, Chase Alderman 22, Braiden Hammonds 2, Colby Wilburn 11.
Rowan County 25 10 12 5 3 — 55
Harlan 19 14 14 5 9 — 61
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Harlan (80) — Jordan Akal 32, Kyler McLendon 10, Will Austin 2, Kaleb McLendon 17, Jaedyn Gist 19.
Frederick Douglass (74) — Melo Boone 13, Cameron Dunn 3, Weston Pentecost 16, Tylon Webb 16, Avrim Chenault 2, Tyson Barnett 14, Shemar Oroy-Ford 3, Caden Johnson 1, Thomas Howard 6.
Harlan 18 18 22 22 — 80
Frederick Douglass 31 19 15 9 — 74