Senior guards lead HCHS past Hazard

Published 6:45 pm Saturday, December 29, 2018

HYDEN — With three regional championship games and a state tournament appearance on their resume, Harlan County senior guards Phebe McHargue, K.K. Johnson and Reanna Middleton are second to none in eastern Kentucky when it comes to experience in pressure situations. The HCHS guards came through under adverse conditions Saturday in the final sessions of the Hyden Citizens Bank Classic as Hazard cut a 20-point deficit to seven before the Lady Bears recovered to hang on for a 63-54 win that pushed their record to 9-2 going into the 2019 portion of this season’s schedule.

McHargue scored 23 points to lead the Lady Bears, while Middleton and Johnson added 12 each as HCHS won two of three in the tournament, including victories the last two nights over Owsley County and Hazard, two of the top 14th Region teams in preseason polls.

“They have been through it and knew what to do,” Harlan County coach Debbie Green said. “We hit our free throws, and Ree hit a big shot late in the game. Phebe played well and hit some shots. We want her to take those 3s.”

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Harlan County burned the Lady Dogs in transition numerous times in the opening quarter as turnovers and runouts led to seven layups. McHargue led the Lady Bears’ layup assault in the first period as she hit five of eight shots, including a 3-pointer. Johnson added two baskets as HCHS built a 23-7 lead by hitting 10 of 18 shots from the field.

Harlan County’s intensity dropped in the second quarter and Hazard fought back. Four straight points by Turner and a basket by Johnson pushed the lead back to 20 late in the half before a Lady Bears’ turnover led to a Caudill basket that cut the deficit to 38-20 at halftime.

“We wanted to come out loose and play the way we have all year, and I thought we did that the first half,” Green said. “Hazard is a good shooting, and I was worried they could make a run if we came out flat the second half, and we did.”

Hazard pulled within 11 as Harlan County went scoreless the first four minutes of the third quarter. McHargue hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lady Bears back in control. Kassy Owens added a basket late in the period, one of only three in the quarter for the Lady Bears as HCHS took a 46-34 lead into the final period.

After missing all 10 of their 3-point attempts in the first three quarters, Hazard made a run late as Desiree Sturgill hit two and Hayley Caudill added one as the Lady Dogs cut the deficit to 55-47 with 1:40 to play. Hazard got as close as several earlier in the quarter before a jumper and by Middleton and two free throws from McHargue stretched the lead back to 11. McHargue and Johnson teamed to hit eight of 10 at the line over the final 71 seconds to put the game away. Johnson was also big on the boards as she hustled her way to 13 for the game.

Sturgill scored 19 points and Caudill added 15 to lead Hazard (4-6)

Harlan County returns to action Saturday at North Laurel in a rematch of last year’s 13th Region Tournament championship game.

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Harlan County 63, Hazard 54

HAZARD (4-6)

Hayley Caudill 6-14 2-2 15, Desiree Sturgill 6-20 5-11 19, Joanna Habans 0-2 0-0 0, Simone Beverly 0-4 2-2 2, Shelbi Ritchie 0-2 1-2 1, Annie Harris 2-2 3-4 7, Libby Danner 4-6 2-5 10. Totals: 18-50 15-26 54.

HARLAN COUNTY (9-2)

Phebe McHargue 7-12 6-6 23, K.K. Johnson 4-11 4-6 12, Reanna Middleton 4-8 2-2 12, Morgan Blakley 2-5 1-2 5, Breann Turner 3-10 2-2 8, Hannah Wood 0-3 1-2 1, Kassy Owens 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 21-50 16-20 63.

Hazard 7 13 14 20 — 54

Harlan County 23 15 8 17 — 63

3-point goals: Hazard 3-16 (Sturgill 2-11, Caudill 1-3, Beverly 0-1, Hagans 0-1), Harlan County 5-16 (McHargue 3-6, Middleton 2-4, Blakley 0-1, Wood 0-2, Johnson 0-3). Rebounds: Hazard 29 (Harris 8, Sturgill 6, Danner 6, Ritchie 5, Beverly 3, Caudill 1), Harlan County 31 (Johnson 13, Blakley 6, Turner 6, Wood 3, McHargue 2, Owens 1). Turnovers: Hazard 15, Harlan County 12. Fouled out: Harlan County (Turner).