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By Paul Lunsford

The Harlan Lady Dragons let one slip away on Tuesday against visiting Hazard.

Harlan trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, but trailed 33-28 at halftime.

Kylie Noe and Aymanni Wynn each had four points as the Lady Dragons opened the third quarter with an 8-3 spurt to even the score at 36-36 with 5:33 remaining in the period.

The game was tied twice before Alli Thompson and Abbi Fields closed the quarter each with a basket as Harlan led 44-40 entering the final period.

A jumper by Angel Wynn at the 5:57 mark gave the Lady Dragons their biggest lead of the night – 47-41.

A three-point play Andrianna Harris and a 3-pointer by Hannah Stidham tied the game at 51-all with 2:47 left in the game.

The game was tied at 52 and 54. With 1:30 remaining Noe miss two free throws.

A short jumper by Libby Danner gave the Lady Bulldogs a 56-54 lead with 34 seconds to play.

At the 17.4 mark, Danner hit one of two free throws to give Hazard a three-point edge.

Harlan set up its final play of the game. A 3-pointer by Aymanni Wynn missed with six seconds to play, but Noe grabbed the offensive rebound and put the ball in the basket with two seconds. Hazard didn’t have to inbounds the ball as the clock expired.

Seventh-grade forward Hannah Caudill powered Hazard (3-8) with 26 points, including nine-of-13 from the field and six-of-eight free throws. Harris, senior center, finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds.

Aymanni Wynn, a freshman guard, led the Lady Dragons with 16 points. Noe scored 14 points.

Harlan outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs 37-33. Aymanni Wynn and Noe each grabbed nine boards. The Lady Dragons cut down on turnovers and had a season-low 12 for the game.

Harlan coach Tiffany Hamm decided to change up the starting lineup with freshman guard Faith Hoskins and eighth-grade forward Kylie Jones replacing seniors Angel Wynn and Alli Thompson.

“I just wanted to reward production with the lineup charge. We are gonna play a lot of players and the kids who didn’t start tonight still came in and produced,” she said.

Harris had two baskets as Hazard took an 8-2 lead after three minutes. A pair of 3-pointers from Angel Wynn pulled the Lady Dragons with three, but Caudill completed a three-point play and Harris scored inside as the Lady Bulldogs led 17-11 after one quarter.

Hazard took a nine-point lead on four different occasions in the second period. The Lady Bulldogs held a 31-22 advantage at the 2:31 mark, but Aymanni Wynn completed a three-play play and Emma Owens nailed her third 3-pointer of the quarter to pulled Harlan with five at the break.

“Our point guard (Owens) really played confidently tonight,” said Hamm. “She settled us down and got us organized, while also pushing the pace when we had advantageous situations.

“I thought the effort was good all four quarters, but we just executed much better in the second half.

Owens finished with nine points and three rebounds and led the team in assists with three.

Harlan (0-6) will play host to Letcher Central (5-4) on Thursday and Betsy Layne on Saturday before traveling to Middlesboro for a girls/boys doubleheader on Tuesday.

Hazard returns to action Saturday at home against Madison Southern.

HAZARD (3-8)
Libby Danner 1-5 1-2 3, Mallory Combs 3-11 1-2 7, Hayley Caudill 9-13 6-8 26, Hannah Stidham 3-6 0-1 7, Andrianna Harris 7-16 2-8 14. Totals: 22-51 10-21 57.

HARLAN (0-6)
Emma Owens 3-6 0-0 9, Faith Hoskins 0-3 0-0 0, Aymanni Wynn 7-14 2-4 16, Peighton Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Kylie Noe 6-11 2-8 14, Alli Thompson 1-1 0-0 2, Scarlett Rowe 1-4 0-0 3, Angel Wynn 3-8 0-2 8, Abbi Fields 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 23-54 4-14 56.

Hazard 17 16 07 17 – 57
Harlan 11 17 16 12 – 56
3-Point goals: Hazard 3-8 (Caudill 2-2, Stidham 1-3, Combs 0-3), Harlan 6-20 (Owens 3-4, Angel Wynn 2-6, Rowe 1-3, Fields 0-1, Hoskins 0-2, Aymanni Wynn 0-4). Rebounds: Hazard (Harris 17, Stidham 7, Caudill 4, Danner 3, Combs 2), Harlan 37 (Noe 9, Aymanni Wynn 9, Angel Wynn 4, Fields 4, Owens 3, Hoskins 3, Thompson 3, Jones 2). Assists: Hazard 13 (Danner 5), Harlan 8 (Owens 3). Turnovers: Hazard 13, Harlan 12. Fouled out: None.