PINEVILLE — A Harlan offense that in recent years may have had only Option 1 and Option 2 against most opponents has added some diversity during a recent streak of nine wins in 10 games.

With star guards Jordan Akal and Kliian Ledford hitting only three of 17 shots between them, senior Cade Barnes stepped up big in one of the biggest games of the season. Barnes hit seven of 11 shots from the field and all five free throw attempts in a 23-point performance that propelled the Dragons past Williamsburg 61-56 in the semifinals of the 13th Region All “A” Classic at Pineville.

“We should be that type of team where several people could lead us any night,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said. “Cade really stepped up big as a senior. He hit a lot of shots, especially the first half.’

Harlan (12-4) advances to the championship game against Middlesboro on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Akal added 11 points for Harlan, while Ledford and Jon Eldridge chipped in with 10 each.

Junior guards Caleb Rose and Slaht Hunter led the 9-8 Jackets with 20 and 12 points, respectively. Senior center Hunter Brown added 11 points.

Barnes hit his first four shots and scored 10 points in the first quarter as the Dragons built a 14-10 lead.

Harlan missed 10 of 13 shots in the second quarter as Williamsburg reeled off eight unanswered points to take.a brief lead before Barnes converted a four-point play to put the Dragons up 22-19. A Rose basket to close the half sent the teams to the locker rooms with a 22-22 tie.

Hunter hit three straight shots to spark the Jackets in the third quarter as they went on a 13-7 run to build a five-point lead after Jared Hawkins and Akal hit 3-pointers to start the half. Two free throws each by Akal and Barnes cut the Williamsburg lead to 38-34 going into the final period.

“Hunter hit some big shots for them and they got the momentum in the third quarter,” Akal said. “Kaleb McLendon hit a runner in the lane, then Kilian and Jordan hit some big free throws down the stretch. I don’t know if either team ever found a rhythm. We did hit some free throws.”

Two straight baskets by Eldridge after a basket by Ledford put Harlan back on top early in the fourth period. A 3-pointer from the corner by Barnes extended the Dragons’ lead to five with 4:25 to play. Williamsburg got as close as three on two occasions, but Harlan answered each time at the line as Akal and Jaedyn Gist each connected on two. Ledford hit six of six in the final minute.

The Harlan-Middlesboro championship game will be the first time two 52nd District teams have played in the finals since Harlan beat Evarts in both 1995 and 1996.

“We know them and they know us. There are no secrets as district rivals,” Akal said. “An all-52nd District final isn’t bad.”

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Harlan 61, Williamsburg 56

WILLIAMSBURG (9-8)

Dalton Ponder 3-5 0-0 6, Caleb Rose 8-17 3-4 20, Slaht Hunter 4-15 2-2 12, Devonte Powell 0-0 1-2 1, Hunter Brown 3-9 4-8 11, Larry Bray 1-5 4-4 6. Totals: 19-51 14-20 56.

HARLAN (12-4)

Jordan Akal 2-10 6-6 11, Cade Barnes 7-11 5-5 23, Jared Hawkins 1-3 0-0 3, Kilian Ledford 1-7 8-10 10, Jon Eldridge 5-11 0-3 10, Carter Barnes 0-1 0-2 0, Kaleb McLendon 1-2 0-0 1, Jaedyn Gist 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 17-45 21-30 61.

Williamsburg 9 13 16 18 — 56

Harlan 14 8 12 27 — 61

3-point goals: Williamsburg 4-18 (Hunter 2-11, Brown 1-1, Rose 1-3, Ponder 0-1, Bray 0-2), Harlan 6-15 (Cade Barnes 4-5, Hawkins 1-2, Akal 1-3, Eldridge 0-1, McLendon 0-1, Ledford 0-3). Rebounds 26 (Rose 8, Powell 7, Brown 7, Hunter 3, Ponder 1), Harlan 23 (Eldridge 8, Akal 4, Cade Barnes 4, Hawkins 3, Ledford 2, McLendon 1, Gist 1). Turnovers: Williamsburg 26, Harlan 22. Fouled out: None.

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Middlesboro moved into the finals of the 13th Region All “A” Classic at Pineville with a 67-60 win over Lynn Camp in the opening semifinal game.

Junior point guard Jabari Kyle poured in 22 points to lead the Jackets. Christian Hubbard and Trey Brock added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

All five starters reached double figures for Lynn Camp, led by Marcus Hollin and Maison Prater with 13 each. Max Burd and Jacob Belew each scored 12. Matt Disney tossed in 10.

Middlesboro led all the way, but Lynn Camp closed to within four in the final minute. Kyle and Hubbard each hit two free throws to put the game away, part of a 19-for-21 night at the free throw line for Middlesboro.

The Jackets started hot, racing to a 13-2 lead on two three-point plays by Hubbard and a 3-pointer and basket by Kyle. The Jackets stayed in control the remainder of the period as Kyle finished with 10 points to help Middlesboro build a 23-11 lead.

Hollin picked up his third foul in the closing seconds of the period.

Baskets by Disney and Belew early in the second quarter cut the deficit to single digits. Disney added a 3-pointer with 1:50 left in the half, following two 3-pointers by Prater, as the Wildcats cut the deficit to 30-27.

A pair of 3-pointers by Overbay helped Middlesboro rebuild the lead back to 10, at 37-27, going into the break.

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Middlesboro (67) — Jabari Kyle 22, Christian Hubbard 12, Trey Brock 10, Mykel Griffin 8, Josh Overbay 6, T.J. Patterson 5, Scott Overbay 2, Andrew Padgett 2.

Lynn Camp (60) — Maison Prater 13, Marcus Hollin 13, Max Burd 12, Jacob Belew 12, Matt Disney 10.

Lynn Camp 11 16 17 16 — 60

Middlesboro 23 14 14 16 — 67