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Even when he’s not at full strength, Harlan sophomore guard Jordan Akal can take over a game like few players in eastern Kentucky.

Deadly from the 3-point line in the first half and the free throw line in the second, Akal poured in 43 points to help Harlan cool off the hottest team in the 14th Region with a 74-57 victory over visiting Perry Central.

“Even with two bad ankles, he’s capable of those kind of nights,” Harlan coach Derrick Akal said of his son. “I love layups and I like 3-pointers and we had both tonight. They were aggressive defensively and we did a good job at the free throw line.”

Harlan hit 30 of 43 free throw line as the Commodores had trouble keeping the Harlan guards in front of them, especially Akal, who hit 15 of 18 at the line, and Jaedyn Gist, who hit nine of 15 in a 19-point performance.

Cameron Fugate and Tyler Day each scored 10 points to lead the 9-14 Commodores, who entered the game with a five-game winning streak.

Perry led by two entering the second quarter when Akal reeled off three straight 3-pointers and Gist added two baskets as the Dragons pulled out a 38-31 halftime lead.

The Commodores went ice cold in the third quarter, missing 11 of 14 shots as the Dragons stretched their lead to 18 by the end of the quarter.

Harlan (11-11) plays at South Laurel on Tuesday. Perry Central (9-14) travels to Owsley County on Tuesday.

———

Charles Mullins and Andrew Pence each scored 12 points as Perry Central rallied for a 38-35 win in junior varsity action.

Jayden Ward led the 2-5 Dragons with 12 points. Kyler McLendon scored eight. John Mark Bryson chipped in with six. Trey Barnes added five. Cameron Maples and Matthew Pennington scored two each.

———

Harlan 74, Perry Central 57

PERRY CENTRAL (9-14)

Cameron Fugate 4-13 2-2 10, Dawson Duff 3-13 0-0 7, DeAndre Reed 2-4 2-2 6, Dylan Cornett 3-13 0-1 7, Lance McKenzie 0-2 2-4 2, Mason McAlarnis 1-1 3-4 5, Rydge Beverly 3-8 1-2 7, Tyler Day 4-9 0-0 10, Tyler Fannin 0-0 2-2 2, Charles Mullins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-63 12-17 57.

HARLAN (11-11)

Jordan Akal 10-23 15-18 43, Kaleb McLendon 1-2 2-2 4, Jaedyn Gist 5-8 9-15 19, Johann Gist 0-0 0-0 0, Jon Eldridge 2-5 0-0 4, Jayden Ward 0-1 0-0 0, Kyler McLendon 1-2 2-2 4, Charles David Morton 0-3 0-0 0, Trey Barnes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 30-43 74.

Perry Central 15 16 9 17 — 57

Harlan 13 25 20 16 — 74

3-point goals: Perry Central 5-19 (Day 2-4, Fugate 1-3, Cornett 1-5, Duff 1-6, McKenzie 0-1), Harlan 8-22 (Akal 8-13, Kaleb McLendon 0-1, Eldridge 0-1, Morton 0-3). Rebounds: Perry Central 33 (Cornett 7, McKenzie 7, Fugate 5, Duff 4, McAlarnis 4, Reed 3, Beverly 2, Day 1), Harlan 29 (Eldridge 10, Jaedyn Gist 6, Kaleb McLendon 5, Akal 3, Johann Gist 2, Ward 2, Kyler McLendon 1). Turnovers: Perry Central 15, Harlan 13. Fouled out: Perry Central (Reed), Harlan (Kaleb McLendon). Assists: Perry Central 7 (Reed 3), Harlan 6 (Kaleb McLendon 2, Eldridge 2). Technicals: Perry Central (bench).