HAZARD — Harlan County started its summer slate with a battle against defending 14th Region champ Perry Central that truly wasn’t decided until the final second.
Harlan County had the ball out of bounds with two seconds left in a tie game before calling timeout to set up the final play. Maddox Huff connected on a lob pass to Trent Noah who hit a short jumper to give the Black Bears a 79-77 victory.
Noah and Huff led the Bears as they did most of last season, finishing with 32 and 20 points, respectively. Daniel Carmical added 12 points on four 3-pointers in the second half. Jaycee Carter contributed 11 points, followed by Brody Napier with three and Ethan Rhymer with one.
Noah scored 20 points in the first half and Huff added 10 as the Bears took a 37-36 lead at the break.
Baskets by Carter and Huff gave the Bears a five-point lead midway through the second half before Perry battled back. Two 3s by Carmical and a pair of free throws by Noah gave HCHS a 77-74 lead, but the Commodores pulled within one on two free throws then drew a another foul with 2.3 seconds left, tying the game by hitting one of two.
Harlan County overcame an early 14-3 deficit to go up 36-32 at halftime in a freshman game, but the Commodores rallied to win 64-54.
Terry Michael Delenay scored 18 and Reggie Cottrell added 16 to lead the Bears. Shemarr Carr tossed in seven, followed by Gage Peck with five and Aidan Reynolds and Brennan Blevins with four each,.
Perry Central broke open a tie game at halftime in junior varsity action to win 63-39.
Delaney scored 13 and Ethan Simpson added 12 to lead the Black Bears. Cottrell and Blevins scored four each. Carr, Reynolds and Evan Simpson scored two each.
Harlan County will return to summer action Monday at Hazard.