Bears take second in state 2A
Published 7:54 pm Sunday, January 19, 2025
- The Harlan County Black Bears placed second in the Kentucky 2A State Tournament on Sunday with an 80-75 loss to Calloway County. Team members include, from left: assistant coach Cameron Carmical, Bryson Bryant, Brody Napier, assistant coach Casey Lester, Brennan Blevins, Brady Freeman, Jaycee Carter, Kaden Jones, Brady Smith, Tucker Curtis, Kayden Hensley, Reggie Cottrell, Trent Cole, Landon Brock, Hayden Grace, Cole Cornett, Rydge Lewis, Maddox Huff and coach Kyle Jones.
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By John Henson
Sports Writer
OWENSBORO — Harlan County’s first season in 2A basketball competition ended one game short of a state championship as the Black Bears dropped an 80-75 shootout Sunday to Calloway County in the championship game that saw three tournament records fall.
Calloway senior guards Jonah Butler and Eli Finley teamed for 70 points as Butler hit 12 of 17 shots for 36 points and Finley connected on 12 of 24 for 34 points, Butler set a record for most points in the state tournament with 94.
Harlan County senior guard Maddox Huff also had a memorable day with a tournament record 39 points. He also set a record for free throws as he hit all 13 attempts.
Senior center Jaycee Carter had 10 points and 13 rebounds., Sophomore guard Trent Cole also added 10 points for the 14-5 Bears.
The lead changed hands numerous times early. Huff and Cole sparked a late run that put the Bears up 24-21 going into the second period.
Huff closed the half with three straight 3s, including a 30-foot jumper at the buzzer to give HCHS a 38-31 lead at the break.
A basket by Brody Napier pushed Harlan County’s lead to nine early in the third quarter, but the Bears went cold from there as Butler and Finley found their rhythm to put the Lakers up 53-50 going into the final period.
Consecutive baskets by Reggie Cottrell and Napier gave Harlan County its last lead at 58-57 with 5:18 to play. Finley, Butler and Stephen Lane each scored as Calloway built a 69-60 advantage before the game turned into a free throw contest over the final two minutes. Huff drew fouls on three straight 3-pointers and converted on all nine free throws as the Bears got as close as three on Napier’s trey with 4.6 seconds left. Harlan County hit 15 of 16 at the line and Calloway connected on 18 of 24.
“I’m really proud of our kids. This group the past two years has put Harlan Co. basketball on a statewide map. They are respected any place we travel, not only as players, but as great young men,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “We will continue to try and build off this. I don’t think this group is done yet. I think they have some more to prove.”
Harlan County returns to action Tuesday at home against Pikeville.
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Calloway County 80, Harlan County 75
CALLOWAY COUNTY (17-2)
Jonah Butler 12-17 9-11 36, Eli Finley 12-24 9-13 34, Luke Armstrong 1-4 0-0 2, Cole Lockhart 1-1 0-0 2, Stephen Lane 2-3 0-0 6, Jackson Ames 0-1 0-0 0, Peyton Weatherford 0-0 0-0 0, Totals: 28-50 18-24 80
HARLAN COUNTY (14-5)
Trent Cole 4-8 2-2 10, Maddox Huff 10-28 13-13 39, Brody Napier 3-5 0-0 7, Reggie Cottrell 4-7 0-1 9, Jaycee Carter 5-13 0-0 10, Brennan Blevins 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Smith 0- 0-0 0, Cole Cornett 0-0 0-0 0, Totals: 26-61 15-16 75.
Calloway County 21 10 22 27 — 80
Harlan County 24 14 12 25 — 75
3-point goals: Calloway County 6-13 (Butler 3-4, Lane 2-3, Finley 1-4, Armstrong 0-2), Harlan County 8-27 (Huff 6-19, Cottrell 1-3, Napier 1-2, Carter 0-3). Rebounds: Calloway County 32 (Armstrong 10, Butler 6, Lockhart 6, Finley 5, Lane 1, team 4), Harlan County 29 (Carter 13, Huff 8, Cottrell 4, Napier 2, Cole 1, team 1). Turnovers: Calloway County 3, Harlan County 5. Assists: Calloway County 8 (Finley 4, Butler 3, Lockhart 1), Harlan County 7 (Cole 3, Napier, 2, Carter 2). Fouled out: Harlan County (Huff).
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Ten months after their historical run to the finals of the Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena, the Harlan County Black Bears find themselves playing for a state championship once again, this time in the Kentucky 2A State Tournament in Owensboro.
Harlan County will face Calloway County on Sunday at 3 at the Owensboro Sportscenter for the 2A title after dismantling Christian Academy of Louisville 87-64 on Saturday in the semifinals, Four Bears reached double figures, led by all-state senior guard Maddox Huff with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jaycee Carter added 21 points on six of nine shooting. Trent Cole and Brody Napier added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Jayden Washington carried the CAL offense with 30 points. Man Robinson added 11 points for the 6-8 Centurions.
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Harlan County 87, Christian Academy-Lousville 64
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF LOUISVILLE (6-8)
Man Robinson 4-9 0-0 11, Jordan Cook 1-3 2-2 4, Guy Turner 2-4 0-0 4, Jayden Washington 10-20 8-9 30, Kellan Hall 1-2 0-0 3, Roland Swan 2-3 0-0 4, Myles Howard 2-2 0-0 5, Micah Akin 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson Burke 1-2 0-0 3, Cole Harrison 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Marrs 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Hidden 0-0 0-0 0, Khristian Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0, Calvin Uhrig 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-48 10-11 64.
HARLAN COUNTY (14-4)
Trent Cole 4-8 4-4 14, Maddox Huff 7-13 5-5 24, Brody Napier 4-6 4-5 13, Reggie Cottrell 3-10 2-4 9, Jaycee Carter 6-9 8-8 21, Brennan Blevins 2-3 0-0 5, Landon Brock 0-0 0-0 0, Cole Cornett 0-1 0-0 0, Bryson Bryant 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Kaden Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-50 24-28 87.
CAL 10 21 17 16 — 64
Harlan County 18 20 31 18 — 87
3-point goals: CAL 8-22 (Robinson 3-6, Washington 2-6, Hall 1-2, Burke 1-2, Howard 1-1, Cook 0-1, Turner 0-1, Swan 0-1, Akin 0-1, Mitchell 0-1), Harlan County 11-23 (Huff 5-11, Cole 2-5, Napier 1-1, Blevins 1-1, Carter 1-2, Cottrell 1-3). Rebounds; CAL 19 (Washington 5, Cook 4, Hall 3, Howard 2, Marrs 2, Turner 1, Akin 1, team 1), Harlan County 34 (Huff 10, Napier 8, Cottrell 4, Carter 4, Cole 2, Brock 1, Bryant 1, team 4). Turnovers: CAL 9, Harlan County 8. Assists: CAL 11 (Robinson 4, Washington 3, Cook 1, Howard 1, Akin 1, Burke 1), Harlan County 17 (Huff 6, Cole 5, Cottrell 2, Carter 2, Napier 1, Blevins 1. Fouled out; CAL (Cook).
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OWENSBORO — Making their first trip to the Kentucky 2A State Tournament, the Harlan County Black Bears took control in the second half in pulling away for a 53-36 win Friday over Mercer County at the Owensboro Sportscaster.
Senior guard Maddox Huff scored 20 points, all but three in the second half, to lead the 13-4 Bears. Junior guard Reggie Cottrell carried the HCHS offense in the first half and finished with 13 points. Brody Napier had nine points and seven rebounds.
Senior center Trevor Ellis paced the 11-5 Titans with 15 points.
The two teams played two weeks earlier at South Laurel in the Raymond Reed Classic with Harlan County winning 70-58. The Bears took control in the second quarter of that game. Harlan County led by only two at halftime in the reattach before outscoring Mercer 17-5 in the third period.
Both offenses struggled in the opening quarter as Cottrell and Brody Napier had the only two baskets in the first three minutes for an early 4-0 Harlan County lead. Those were the only two field goals in the quarter for the Bears, however, as Mercer took a 9-6 lead by the end of the period led by six points from Ellis.
The lead changed hands seven times over the final four minutes of the first half with Trent Cole putting up Harlan County 21-20 at the break as he scored off a drive. Cottrell had seven points in the period to lead the Bears.
A Huff 3 followed by a Jaycee Carter basket off a Napier pass got the Bears off to a good start in the third quarter. Harlan County closed with a 7-0 run on baskets by Cole, Napier and Carter to build a 38-25 lead.
Huff hit his first five shots in the fourth quarter and scored the Bears’ first 10 points as HC and Mercer traded baskets for much of the period. Huff and Cottrell had baskets and Napier hit three of four free throws as the Bears closed with a 7-0 run to earn a spot in Saturday’s semifinals against Christian Academy of Louisville. Calloway County will play Larue County in the other semifinal. The championship game is set for Sunday.
Harlan County 53, Mercer County 36
MERCER COUNTY (11-5)
Jackson Doughty 0-4 0-0 0, Andrew Tatum 3-10 0-2 8, Kaleb Murray 1-5 0-0 2, Preston Hagan 3-8 0-0 8, Trevor Ellis 6-10 3-4 15, Braylon Ellis 1-2 0-0 3, Mijaia Dunn 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Sparrow 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-39 3-6 36.
HARLAN COUNTY (13-4)
Trent Cole 3-5 0-1 6, Maddox Huff 8-21 3-4 20, Brody Napier 3-4 3-4 9, Reggie Cottrell 4-9 4-5 13, Jaycee Carter 2-4 1-3 5, Brennan Blevins 0-1 0-0 0, Braydon Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Kaden Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Bryson Bryant 0-0 0-0 0, Cole Cornett 0-0 0-0 0, Landon Brock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-44 10-14 53.
Mercer County 9 11 5 11 — 36
Harlan County 6 15 17 15 — 53
3-point goals: Mercer County 5-18 (Preston 2-5, Tatum 2-7, B. Ellis 1-2, Murray 0-1, T. Ellis 0-1, Doughty 0-2), Harlan County 3-14 (Cottrell 1-3, Carter 1-3, Huff 1-6, Cole 0-1, Napier 0-1), Rebounds: Mercer County 25 (Hagan 6, Tatum 6, T. Ellis 5, Murray 4, Doughty 2, team 2), Harlan County 29 (Huff 9, Napier 7, Carter 4, Blevins 4, Cottrell 2, team 3), Turnovers: Mercer County 13, Harlan County 6. Assists: Mercer County 8 (Murray 5, Tatum 1, T. Ellis 1, Sparrow 1), Harlan County 7 (Napier 5, Cole 1, Huff 1). Fouled out: None.