As the last link to Harlan’s regional championship teams in 2016 and 2017, senior guard Payeton Charles and junior forward Natalee King have gone from role players to leaders on one of the 13th Region’s youngest teams and have led a recent resurgence for the Lady Dragons, who have won two straight after opening the season with six straight losses.

King scored 27 points and Charles added 19 as Harlan defeated visiting Barbourville 65-54 on Tuesday.

“Payeton and Natalee really lad us on both ends of the floor, especially the second half,” Harlan coach Tiffany Hamm said. “Payeton kept their point in check after she had a huge first half and Natalee dominated the defensive glass. Offensively, they really carried us to victory by just relentlessly attacking the basket. Both players had complete games on both ends of the floor. I also thought Alli Thompson had her best game of the season. She played with an extremely high motor and caused Barbourville some problems.”

Abigail Smith scored 25 points to lead the 2-7 Lady Tigers, including 13 points in the first quarter. King scored six points in the opening period and Charles added four as the Lady Dragons took a 19-16 lead.

Barbourville fought back in the second quarter behind Smith and Lucy Robinson to go up 29-28 at halftime.

King took over in the third quarter with four baskets, including a 3-pointer, to help the Lady Dragons recapture the lead at 44-43.

Harlan hit nine of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter to outscore the Lady Tigers 21-11 and pull away for the victory.

Harlan will play Lexington Sayre on Thursday in the first of three games at the Jim Lancaster Classic at Sayre. Barbourville will be at home against Nicholas County on Saturday.

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Faith Hoskins scored 10 points and Angel Wynn added eight as Harlan won 39-25 in junior varsity action to improve to 3-2 on the season.

Reagan Jones contributed six points and was followed by Aymani Wynn and Emma Owens with five each, Makayla Sizemore with three and Campbell Nunez with two.

Aimee Woolum led Barbourville with 10 points. Aubrey Woolum, Natalie Fisher and Laura Smith added five each.

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Harlan 65, Barbourville 54

BARBOURVILLE (2-7)

Abigail Smith 8 9-14 25, Grace Jones 1 1-2 3, Mary Gray 2 0-0 4, Laura Smith 3 1-2 7, Lucy Robinson 2 1-2 5, Aimee Woolum 4 1-4 9, Natalie Fisher 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 14-26 54.

HARLAN (2-6)

Payeton Charles 5 8-8 19, Ella Karst 1 0-0 2, Savanna Smith 2 0-2 5, Natalee King 11 4-8 27, Alli Thompson 1 5-8 7, Angel Wynn 1 0-0 3, Reagan Jones 1 0-0 2, Emma Owens 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 17-26 65.

Barbourville 16 13 14 11 — 54

Harlan 19 9 16 21 — 65

3-point goals: Barbourville 0, Harlan 4 (Charles 1, Smith 1, King 1, Wynn 1).