The Harlan County Lady Bears got off to an impressive start in the 2017-2018 season, rolling past 12th Region contender Southwestern 65-47 on Saturday at South Laurel in the first of two scrimmages for the Lady Bears.

Senior guard Blair Green scored 24 points and senior center Kaylea Gross added 19 for the Lady Bears.

The Lady Bears’ length on defense created numerous problems for Southwestern and helped Harlan County take control midway through the first quarter on the way to the win.

Green scored her team’s first six points and 11 in the first period. Gross added eight points in the quarter as Harlan County built a 22-8 lead.

Gross had five points and Green added four in the second quarter as the lead grew to 41-24 by halftime.

Green and Gross each scored six points, K.K. Johnson added five and Phebe McHargue hit a 3-pointer as Harlan County outscored Southwestern 20-16 in the third quarter to take a 61-39 lead into the final period.

Harlan County will travel to Clay County on Tuesday for a girls/boys doubleheader in the Southeastern Kentucky Conference Panorama. Harlan will play at Williamsburg on Monday in a girls/boys doubleheader.

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Harlan County (65) — Katelyn Johnson 9, Phebe McHargue 8, Rebecca Middleton 1, Lainey Cox 2, Blair Green 24, Breann Turner 2, Kaylea Gross 19.

Southwestern (47) — Smiddy 3, Wood 3, Cundiff 11, Shenon 7, Harris 10, Young 5, S. Smiddy 3, Taylor 2, Turpin 3.