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Though still wildly inconsistent with one of the 13th Region’s youngest rosters, the Harlan County Lady Bears have demonstrated on a couple of occasions this year that better days are ahead.
The Lady Bears showed that potential again Saturday in the final day of play at the Smoky Mountain Holiday Classic, hitting seven 3-pointers in a 27-point first quarter on the way to a 57-35 win over Falkner, Miss., to salvage one win in three games.
“We shot the ball really well the first half. We ran the floor and had good spacing,” Harlan County coach Gary Greer said. “We are still learning how to play, but they are working and playing hard, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Jaylee Cochran ran three 3-pointers in the opening quarter and scored 11 of her game-high 18 points to lead HCHS. Reagan Clem added two 3s in the quarter and finished with 13 points.
Taylor Garner scored 16 and Ella Maurey added 12 for Falkner.
Harlan County (2-7) returns to action Thursday against Cumberland Gap, Tenn., in the Chain Rock Classic at Pineville.
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Harlan County (57) — Jaylee Cochran 18, Kylee Runions 8, Reagan Clem 13, Whitney Noe 4, Jaycee Simpson 5, Taylynn Napier 5, Raegan Landa 4.
Falkner, Miss. (35) — Emma Maurey 2, Ella Maurey 12, Taylor Garner 16, Mallie Mitchell 3 Anna Rucker 2.

Harlan County 27 12 11 7 — 57
Falkner, Miss. 10 5 14 6 — 35

 

 

Seniors Ava Arnett and Kamryn Biliter teamed for 40 points as Pineville downed Harlan County 53-37 in the second night of play in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Eighth-grade guard Jaycee Simpson led the 1-7 Lady Bears with 10 points. Jaylee Cochran scored nine.
Harlan County will play Falkner, Miss., on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the seventh-place game. Pineville will play Clay County at 11:30 in the fifth-place game.
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Pineville (53) —  Ava Arnett 25, Rachel Howard 2, Kamryn Biller 15, Madison Johnson 6, Clara Strange 5.
Harlan County (37) — Reagan Clem 2, Jaylee Cochran 9, Lacey Robinson 6, Jaycee Simpson 10, Taylynn Napier 6, Raegan Landa 2, Brooke Haywood 2.

 

Lady Bears fall in overtime to Tennessee squad at Gatlinburg tourney

In a rebuilding season where wins have been hard to find, the Harlan County Lady Bears had to know they let one get away on Thursday in the first round of the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
The Lady Bears led by 11 against Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in the fourth quarter when the Lady Raiders took advantage of quick shots and turnovers by HCHS to force overtime before winning 51-43.
Xahara Willis scored 19 and Amiya Leach added 10 for Baylor.
HCHS was led by freshman guard Jaylee Cochran with 15 points.
Baylor pulled even at 36, but Kylee Runions put Harlan County back on top with a baskets with 59 seconds left. Jaycee Simpson hit one of two at the line for a three-point lead.
The Lady Bears took the ball inbounds under the Baylor basket in the closing seconds and tried a long pass that was intercepted. Leach hit a 3 to force overtime.
Baylor dominated the extra session, outscoring the Lady Bears 12-4.
Harlan County (1-6) returns to action on Friday at 1 against Pineville, a first-round loser to Nashville Christian, Tenn.
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Baylor School, Tenn. (51) — R. Oleksik 6, P. Thompson 11, E. Denatreo 3, L.Katalanotto 2, A. Leach 10, X. Willis 19.
Harlan County (43) — Jaylee Cochran 15, Reagan Clem 3, Whitney Noe 5, Kylee Runions 7, Lacey Robinson 5, Jaycee Simpson 5, Taylynn Napier 3.