Bears coast past Hazard, Martin in summer scrimmages

Harlan+County+Trent+Noah+worked+against+Hazards+Jamal+Hazell+in+scrimmage+action+Monday.+Noah+scored+15+points+against+Hazard+and+29+against+Martin+County+as+the+Bears+won+twice.

John Henson

Harlan County Trent Noah worked against Hazard’s Jamal Hazell in scrimmage action Monday. Noah scored 15 points against Hazard and 29 against Martin County as the Bears won twice.

By John Henson, Managing Editor

HAZARD — Making their regular summer trek to Memorial Gym for the Hazard Team Camp on Monday, the Harlan County Black Bears coasted by a pair of the top teams in the respective regions a year ago.
Harlan County placed four in double figures in a 75-51 win over Hazard, the third-ranked team in the 14th Region to end the 2022 season, in the first of three scrimmages, then closed with a 84-48 rout of Martin County, ranked fourth in the 15th Region last season.
Senior guard Daniel Carmical led the balanced HCHS attack against Hazard with 17 points on five 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Maddox Huff scored 16, junior guard Trent Noah tossed in 15 and sophomore center Jaycee Carter added 11. Jonah Swanner, making his first summer appearance following baseball season, tossed in six points. Taelor Haywood scored six. Brody Napier, Ethan Rhymer and Caleb Johnson added two each.
Swanner helped the Bears get off to a strong start with his abilities on the defensive end, leading to three transition baskets for a quick 18-6 lead. Huff led the Bears with four baskets in the first half, while Noah and Carmical added three each as HCHS led 39-25 at the break.
Carmical hit three 3-pointers and Carter added three baskets in the paint as the Harlan County lead grew to 71-41 before both teams went to their reserves.
Noah poured in 29 points and Carmical added 20 as the Bears took control early in the win over Martin County. Huff ran the HCHS break well as he found Noah for a couple of dunks and Carmical for multiple open 3s and added six points. Johnson contributed 10 points off the bench. Swanner and Carter added seven and six points, respectively. Ethan Rhymer, Jared Rhymer and Napier scored two each.
The junior varsity Bears evened their record at 1-1 with a 45-38 win over Hazard.
With the Bears down by two, freshman forward Terry Michael Delaney reeled off eight straight points to spark a 13-4 run to end the scrimmage.
Delaney scored 15 to lead the Bears. Evan Simpson added nine, followed by Ethan Simpson with eight, Reggie Cottrell with seven, Taelor Haywood with four and Shemarr Carr with two.
HCHS will return to action Thursday at Hazard and will play host to Perry Central and Barbourville on Friday.