Bears go back to basics, end skid with blowout at Middlesboro

Harlan+County+guard+Trent+Noah%2C+pictured+in+action+earlier+this+season%2C+scored+33+points+on+Friday+and+added+four+blocked+shots+as+the+Black+Bears+downed+Middlesboro+80-49.

Les Nicholson

Harlan County guard Trent Noah, pictured in action earlier this season, scored 33 points on Friday and added four blocked shots as the Black Bears downed Middlesboro 80-49.

By John Henson, Managing Editor
February 12, 2022

Harlan County 80, Middlesboro 49

HARLAN COUNTY (17-10)
Maddox Huff 2-4 4-4 9, Trent Noah 13-18 3-4 33, Daniel Carmical 5-9 0-1 14, Jackson Huff 4-8 0-0 9, Jonah Swanner 2-4 2-4 6, Tristan Cooper 1-1 0-0 2, Jeremiah Clem 1-1 0-0 3, Brody Napier 0-1 0-0 0, Jaycee Carter 2-2 0-0 4, Caleb Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Ethan Simpson 0-1 0-0 0, Hunter Napier 0-1 0-0 0, Taelor Haywood 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 30-51 9-13 80.
MIDDLESBORO (8-19)
Brayden Barnard 0-2 0-0 0, Jayden Schertz 0-5 2-2 2, Caleb Bogonko 3-6 0-0 7, Jay West 2-5 4-4 9, Trey King 3-8 0-0 9, Trey Kyle 3-6 1-1 7, Jeremiah Beck 2-4 2-2 6, Bryce Bowling 3-4 0-0 7, Peyton Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Richie Logan 0-0 0-0 0, Ashton Osborne 0-3 2-2 2. Totals: 16-46 11-11 49.

Harlan County 19 23 26 12 — 80
Middlesboro 8 13 15 13 — 49
3-point goals: Harlan County 11-22 (Carmical 4-8, Noah 4-9, Clem 1-1, M. Huff 1-3, J. Huff 1-4, B. Napier 0-1, Simpson 0-1), Middlesboro 6-15 (King 3m6, Bowling 0-1, Bogonko 1-2, West 1-2, Beck 0-1, Schertz 0-3). Rebounds: Harlan County 28 (M. Huff 6, J. Huff 6, Cooper 4, Noah 3, Swanner 2, Carter 2, Carmical 1, B. Napier 1, Clem 1, H. Napier 1, Haywood 1), Middlesboro 17 (West 5, Bogonko 3, King 3, Kyle 2, Beck 2, Turner 1, Logan 1). Turnovers: Harlan County 15, Middlesboro 24. Fouled out: None.

 

MIDDLESBORO — Coming off a five-game losing streak when they doubled their season total in only 12 days, the Harlan County Black Bears took a little time to evaluate.
They decided they could fix their slumping offense by finding more energy on defense. The strategy worked Friday as HCHS limited Middlesboro to 33 percent (13 of 39) shooting on the way to an 80-49 victory.
“We’ve had good talks the last few days, just being honest with each other, and watched a lot of film trying to them where we were at and what we were doing defensively when we were playing well and what we were doing defensively not good when we went on that little slump,” Harlan County coach Michael Jones said. “I thought tonight they really locked in defensively and did what we talked about in film. When you play well defensively, then your offense comes and it looks better. I was proud of them.”
With a University of Central Florida assistant coach watching from the stands, sophomore guard Trent Noah poured in 33 points to lead the 17-10 Black Bears. Daniel Carmical added 14 points. Jackson Huff and Maddox Huff contributed nine points each.
Jay West and Trey King scored nine points each to lead the 8-19 Jackets, who are playing without sophomore guard Cayden Grigsby due to illness.
Harlan County forced a three-way tie for the 52nd District’s top seed with the win, meaning a draw will be held Monday at the 52nd District Tournament meeting at Bell County to determine the top three seeds in the tournament. Middlesboro will be the fourth seed in the tournament and will play the team that draws the top seed.
Harlan County will close its regular-season schedule by playing Williamsburg at home on Tuesday and Red Bird at home on Thursday. Middlesboro will play host to Lynn Camp on Tuesday.