A strong third quarter on defense turned a two-point deficit into a 12-point lead and sent the Harlan County Lady Bears to their sixth win in six games with a 66-55 victory Thursday in the Jack Burford Classic at Madison Central.

Johnson Central was limited to only one basket in the decisive third period. Reanna Middleton, K.K. Johnson, Phebe McHargue and Breann Turner, the four HCHS seniors, each had two baskets in the period for the Lady Bears.

McHargue scored 17 and Johnson added 16 for the Lady Bears. Middleton and Turner added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Johnson Central was led by Sammi Sites with 16 points and Alaina Castle with 11.

Harlan County will play Rockcastle County on Friday at 5:15 p.m. and Madison Central on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. to conclude the tournament.

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Harlan County 66, Johnson Central 55

HARLAN COUNTY (6-0)

Phebe McHargue 7-8 1-1 17, K.K. Johnson 5-12 6-9 16, Reanna Middleton 5-10 0-0 14, Morgan Blakley 2-7 0-0 5, Breann Turner 6-11 0-0 12, Hannah Wood 1-5 0-0 2, Jacey Lewis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 26 7-10 66.

JOHNSON CENTRAL (5-4)

Tierra Montgomery 3-6 0-0 6, Alaina Castle 3-7 5-8 11, Sammi Sites 3-10 8-8 16, Ashley Belcher 2-10 2-3 6, Morgan Hopson 3-3 0-0 8, Farrah Montgomery 0-1 0-0 0, Faith Fairchild 1-2 0-0 2, Kaitlyn Fitch 1-1 4-5 6.. Totals: 16 19-24 55.

Harlan County 17 21 20 8 — 66

Johnson Central 18 22 6 9 — 55

3-point goals: Harlan County 7-19 (Middleton 4-7, McHargue 2-2, Blakley 1-4, Johnson 0-1, Turner 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Wood 0-3), Johnson Central 4-11 (Sites 2-4, Hopson 2-2, T. Montgomery 0-1, F. Montgomery 0-1, Belcher 0-3). Rebounds: Harlan County 28 (Turner 10, Blakley 5, McHargue 3, Johnson 3, Middleton 3, Wood 1, Lewis 1), Johnson Central 27 (Sites 7). Turnovers: Harlan County 12, Johnson Central 16. Fouled out: Harlan County (Turner).