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By Paul Lunsford

MIDDLESBORO – After being recognized before the game, joining the 1,000-point club, Middlesboro’s Kailey Owens fired in 36 points on Wednesday as the Lady Jackets defeated Harlan 64-54.

“She had a great night for us tonight. She’s just a great leader,” said Middlesboro coach Scott Overbay. “Luckily, our free throws came through late for us.”

The Lady Dragons never led in the game and had to play catch up all night, falling behind 31-9 late in the first half.

Harlan started the game with five turnovers before even scoring. Middlesboro began with a 7-0 lead.

The Lady Dragons got on the scoreboard at the 2:34 mark when Kylie Noe completed a three-point play. Two 3-pointer by Angel Wynn cut the deficit to 14-9 with 1:34 left in the quarter, but an 8-0 run by Middlesboro pushed the advantage to 22-9 after eight minutes.

The Lady Jackets opened the second period with 9-0 run, led by Owens’ eight points. Harlan didn’t score in the quarter until Abbi Fields’ basket at the 1:36 mark.

Aymanni Wynn completed a three-point play with 12 seconds left in the first half, but the Lady Dragons trailed 31-14 at halftime.

“Against any high school team, you’re not going to be able to play a half like that and come out and win,” said Harlan coach Tiffany Hamm. “I told them at halftime, we’ve got to play the best 16 minutes of our life to get back into this game.”

Harlan, which had 25 turnovers for the game, committed 16 in the first half. They missed 18 of 20 from the field in the second quarter.

The second half was a different showing for the Lady Dragons.

Angel Wynn nailed four 3-pointer and Faith Hoskins added another as Harlan outscored the Lady Jackets 19-9 in the third quarter. Middlesboro led 40-33 entering the final period.

Noe hit two free throws, Hoskins had a jumper and Angel Wynn hit a trey as the Lady Dragons made it a 44-40 game with 5:43 to play. That was as close as Harlan got.

“We fought back hard, but you can’t play one-half of basketball,” added Hamm.

Owens, a junior guard, scored 12 points the rest of the game as the Lady Jackets escaped with a key district win, snapping an 11-game district losing streak.

Mallory James, a junior guard, tossed in 12 points for Middlesboro. Senior guard Grace Gent scored eight points and had eight rebounds.

Angel Wynn, a senior guard, finished with eight 3-pointer and 24 points. Aymanni Wynn contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Noe, an eighth-grade forward, scored just seven points, but grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. Hoskins also added seven points for the Lady Dragons.

“Angel can shoot it,” said Hamm. “She’s struggled a little bit early in the season, but I’ve not lost confidence in her. She really got it well tonight and got us back into the game.”

Harlan out-rebounded the Lady Jackets 41-35. Owens led the Jackets with 13 boards.

Middlesboro (3-9 overall, 1-2 district) plays host to Bell County on Friday and Lynn Camp on Monday.

Harlan (1-7, 0-3) returns home to face Williamsburg on Friday before traveling to Barbourville on Saturday.

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HARLAN (1-7)
Emma Owens 1-10 0-3 3, Faith Hoskins 3-5 0-0 7, Aymanni Wynn 3-11 3-4 10, Peighton Jones 0-2 0-0 0, Kylie Noe 3-12 1-4 7, Angel Wynn 8-19 0-0 24, Scarlett Rowe 0-2 0-0 0, Alli Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Abbi Fields 1-1 1-2 3. Totals: 19-62 5-13 54.

MIDDLESBORO (3-9)
Grace Gent 3-8 1-2 8, Kailey Owens 11-22 11-11 36, Mallory James 4-10 4-9 12, Keeri Betts 1-5 4-6 6, Malaya Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Anna Myers 0-3 0-0 0, Areeza Ahmad 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-51 20-28 64.

Harlan 09 05 19 21 – 54
Middlesboro 22 09 09 24 – 64
3-Point goals: Harlan 11-22 (Angel Wynn 8-11, Aymanni Wynn 1-2, Owens 1-3, Hoskins 1-3, Rowe 0-1, Jones 0-2), Middlesboro 4-11 (Owens 3-5, Gent 1-2, James 0-2, Betts 0-2). Rebounds: Harlan 41 (Noe 18, Aymanni Wynn 10, Owens 4, Angel Wynn 4, Hoskins 2, Jones 2, Thompson 1), Middlesboro 35 (Owens 13, Gent 8, Myers 5, Brown 4, James 3, Betts 2). Assists: Harlan 10 (Aymanni Wynn 4), Middlesboro 6 (James 2, Betts 2). Turnovers: Harlan 25, Middlesboro 22. Fouled out: None.