Trailing by only five points at halftime, Harlan was held to only four points in the third quarter as South Laurel pulled away for a 64-46 win Monday over the visiting Green Dragons.

Guards Matthew Cromer and J.J. Ramey, both rated among the region’s top 10 players, led the 15-1 Cardinals with 19 points each.

Senior guard Kilian Ledford led the 10-6 Dragons with 20 points. Jordan Akal added 10.

Ramey had four baskets in the opening quarter as South built a 19-12 lead. Ledford led Harlan in the second quarter with seven points as the Dragons cut the deficit to 31-26 at halftime.

Cromer and Ramey teamed for 11 points in the third quarter as the Cardinals outscored Harlan 17-4 to go up 48-30.

Harlan returns to action Tuesday at home against Whitley County.

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South Laurel won 46-39 in junior varsity action as junior forward Josh Breeding led the Cardinals with 19 points. Wes Wright added nine points.

Freshman guards Kaleb McLendon led the Dragons with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Charles David Morton contributed nine points. Johann Gist scored six. Carl Pacholewski scored two.

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South Laurel 64, Harlan 46

HARLAN (10-6)

Jordan Akal 4 2-4 10, Cade Barnes 0 0-0 0, Jared Hawkins 2 0-0 5, Kilian Ledford 7 2-2 20, Jon Eldridge 3 0-0 7, Kaleb McLendon 1 1-2 4, Jaeden Gist 0 0-0 0, Carter Barnes 0 0-0 0, Tate Bryson 0 0-0 0, Caleb Adkins 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5-8 46.

SOUTH LAUREL (15-1)

Matt Cromer 8 1-2 19, Alex Hostetler 4 1-2 9, Brett Norvell 3 0-0 8, J.J. Ramey 7 3-3 19, Matthew Dalton 2 0-0 4, Micah Anders 0 2-3 2, Peyton Parker 0 0-0 0, Landon Wombles 0 0-0 0, Ford Breeding 0 0-0 0, Brady Hibbitts 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 8-12 64.

Harlan 12 14 4 16 — 46

South Laurel 19 12 17 16 — 64

3-point goals: Harlan 7 (Ledford 4, Hawkins 1, Eldridge 1, McLendon 1), South Laurel 6 (Cromer 2, Norvell 2, Ramey 2).