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By Paul Lunsford

The Harlan County Black Bears used the old saying, ‘the first four minutes of the third quarter is important.’

Harlan County trailed 33-32 at halftime. Daniel Carmical hit three 3-pointers and Trent Noah scored three points as the Bears took a 54-38 advantage with 4:20 remaining in the third period.

Carmical nailed his fifth trey at the 2:38 mark to give HC a 51-41 advantage.
Both teams exchanged baskets the rest of the quarter as the Black Bears maintained a 57-49 lead.

Josh Turner’s basket with 4:56 left to play give Harlan County its biggest lead at 68-54.

The Bears hit seven of nine free throws in the last four minutes to capture a 77-67 victory over visiting Breathitt County.

“We played harder after the halftime talk,” said Harlan County coach Michael Jones.

Noah, a freshman guard, powered HC with 27 points. Carmical and Tyler Cole followed with 17 points each.

The Black Bears outrebounded Breathitt 40-28. Noah and Turner each grabbed eight boards for Harlan County.

“They killed us on the boards,” said Breathitt County coach John Noble. “They are a good basketball team. Coach Jones does a good job with them.”

Austin Sperry, a freshman guard, led the Bobcats with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Sophomore guard Luke Bellemy fired in 16 points. Tyler Christy, a senior forward scored 12 points and had six boards. Bryce Hoskins added eight points.

Breathitt County committed nine turnovers while the Bears only had two.

The game was tied at 6-6 and 8-8 before the Bobcats used an 8-0 and led 16-8 with 3:42 remaining the in first quarter.

Maddox Huff hit a 3-pointer, Jonah Swanner and Noah each had baskets as Harlan County pulled within 21-17 after eight minutes.

Noah’s trey at the 4:16 mark of the second quarter tied the game at 23-all.

Carmical, Jackson Huff and Cole each hit 3-pointers, but Breathitt led by one at the break.

Harlan County shot 39 percent (27 of 69), while the Bobcats were 28 of 57 for 49 percent.

The 14-4 Black Bears will return to action Thursday at home against Whitley County (3-10).

HC will participate in the Big Lou Coaches Verses Cancer Classic at Buckhorn on Saturday. The Bears will play Wolfe County.

Breathitt County (12-4) plays host to Perry Central on Thursday.

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Sophomore guard Jeremiah Clem fired in 15 points as Harlan County won the junior varsity game 45-35.

Caleb Johnson scored 11 points for the 3-3 Bears. Ethan Rhymer followed with seven. Tristen Cooper had six. Jared Rhymer tossed in four points. Samuel Henson scored two.

Isaac Bellemy led the Bobcats with 14.

BREATHITT COUNTY (12-4)
Austin Sperry 11-21 2-4 26, Luke Bellamy 6-14 0-0 16, Tyler Christy 6-10 0-0 12, Jaylen Turner 1-4 0-0 2, Bryce Hoskins 3-4 2-3 8, Andrew Combs 1-4 0-0 3, Caden Turner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 28-57 4-7 67.

HARLAN COUNTY (14-4)
Trent Noah 8-19 9-10 27, Daniel Carmical 6-10 0-0 17, Tyler Cole 6-17 3-4 17, Jackson Huff 2-8 0-0 5, Josh Turner 3-6 0-0 6, Jonah Swanner 1-3 0-2 2, Maddox Huff 1-5 0-0 3, Tristan Cooper 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 27-69 12-16 77.

Breathitt County 21 12 16 18 – 67
Harlan County 17 15 25 20 – 77

3-Point goals: Breathitt County 7-20 (Bellemy 4-8, Sperry 2-4, Combs 1-4, Christy 0-2, J. Turner 0-2), Harlan County 11-27 (Carmical 5-8, Cole 2-4, Noah 2-6, M. Huff 1-4, J Huff 1-5).
Rebounds: Breathitt County 28 (Sperry 8, J. Turner 6, Christy 6, Hoskins 4, Bellemy 3, Combs 1), Harlan County 40 (Noah 8, Turner 8, J. Huff 6, Cole 5, Swanner 5, Carmical 4, Cooper 3, M. Huff 1). Assists: Breathitt County 13 (J. Turner 6), Harlan County 10 (Cole 3). Turnovers: Breathitt County 9, Harlan County 2.