Dragons move on to All ‘A’ state semis with overtime win over Bracken

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Jon Dickenson

The Harlan Green Dragons celebrated after defeating Bracken County on Friday in the state All “A” Classic at Eastern Kentucky University.

January 28, 2022

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Gallery • 3 Photos
Jon Dickenson
Senior guard Jordan Akal scored 28 points in Harlan's overtime win over Bracken County in the state All "A" Classic.

 

Harlan 63, Bracken County 58 (OT)

HARLAN (15-7)
Jordan Akal 10-20 4-6 28, Kyler McLendon 1-3 1-2 4, Kaleb McLendon 1-5 2-3 5, Jaedyn Gist 5-7 5-9 16, Will Austin 4-5 2-3 10, Johann Gist 0-0 0-0 0, Nate Montanaro 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-40 14-23 63
BRACKEN COUNTY (15-6)
JuShod Commodore 0-1 1-2 1, Cayden Reed 7-13 1-4 16, Devante Jefferson 0-7 0-0 0, Blake Reed 12-22 3-5 31, Austin Norton 1-4 0-0 2, Grant Free 0-2 0-0 0, Payton Gilvin 1-1 0-0 2, Garrett Reynold 2-6 1-2 6. Totals: 23-56 6-13 58.

Harlan 16 13 17 6 11 — 63
Bracken County 14 12 15 11 6 — 58
3-point goals: Harlana 7-19 (Akal 4-10, Gist 1-1, Kyler McLendon 1-3, Kaleb McLendon 1-5), Bracken County 6-22 (B. Reed 4-9, Reynolds 1-3, C. Reed 1-4, Commodore 0-1, Norton 0-1, Jefferson 0-2, Free 0-2). Rebounds: Harlan 38 (Austin 13, Jaedyn Gist 8, Akal 6, Kaleb McLendon 5, team 3, Kyler McLendon 2, Johann Gist 1), Bracken County 23 (B. Reed 7). Assists: Harlan 8 (Kyler McLendon 3, Kaleb McLendon 2, Jaedyn Gist 2, Akal 1), Bracken County 10 (C. Reed 4). Turnovers: Harlan 25, Bracken County 11. Fouled out: Harlan (Akal, Austin), Bracken County (Commodore, B. Reed, Norton).

 

Harlan became the first 13th Region team to qualify for the All “A” Classic state semifinals since the 2000 Green Dragons by holding off Bracken County 63-58 on Friday in the quarterfinals at Eastern Kentucky University.
The Green Dragons led by 12 points in the third quarter, but the Polar Bears fought back and had two chances to win in regulation. Cayden Reed missed two free throws in the final minute, then Bracken turned it over in the closing seconds after a Harlan turnover.
Harlan lost senior guard Jordan Akal to fouls in overtime, but the Dragons pulled away on free throws by Will Austin and Jaedyn Gist.
Akal scored 28 to lead the 15-7 Dragons. Gist and Austin added 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Blake Reed led Bracken with 31 points. Cayden Reed contributed 16.
Harlan will play Breathitt County in the semifinals on Saturday.