December, 6th, 2017- Knott County Central High School
David Leveridge- Bluegrass Sports Nation- High School Basketball
Game 1 Girls Harlan County Black Bears vs Knott County Central Lady Patriots
Blaire Green – Photo by Les Nicholson
First Quarter
In the opening game of the 31st Annual Mountain Basketball Classic the game featured the Knott County Central Lady Patriots taking on the Harlan County Lady Black Bears. The girls game tonight features some very talented athletes. Knott County Central has #14 Jaida Higgins and Harlan County features Miss Basketball candidate and University of Kentucky Commit #32 Blaire Green. Harlan County gets the tip, but Knott County Central is the first one to get on the scoreboard. KCC opens the scoring with a corner three from #21 Thornsbury leading 3-0 with 6:09 remaining in the quarter. Harlan County begins to settle down and has success breaking the KCC press, scoring on two consecutive baskets taking a one point lead. Harlan County 4 Knott County Central 3, 5:11 remained in the quarter. Harlan County started pressing and was able to score several baskets off the turnovers. 3:25 remained in the quarter Harlan County leads by eight points, Harlan County 16 Knott County Central 8. Harlan County gets hot from the outside connecting on several three- point shots. At the end of the first Quarter Harlan County leads by seventeen points. Harlan County Lady Black bears 29, Knott County Central Lady Patriots 12.
Second Quarter.
Harlan County continues to press the ball forcing several turnovers. Harlan County Lady Bears also continue hitting the three point shot. With 6:19 remaining in the half, Harlan County increases the lead to twenty- two points. Harlan County 36 Knott County Central 14. Knott County finally gets on the board with a layup in transition. Harlan County is a team that will push the ball up the court and has a solid three- point shooting team. Harlan County takes a twenty- six- point lead 47- 21 with 2:59 remaining in the second half. Knott County Central Lady Patriots force the Lady Black Bears into several turnovers and cuts into the lead, reducing the deficit to twenty points. Harlan County Lady Black Bears 47- Knott County Central Lady Patriots 27 with 1:55 remaining in the half. Harlan County begins playing comfortable with the large lead and commits several turnovers, KCC capitalizes and reduces the lead to eighteen points. Harlan county calls a quick timeout and the Lady Black bears regain their composure increasing the lead to twenty- five points with 21 seconds remaining in the half. At the end of the first half Harlan County leads by twenty- three points. Harlan County Lady Black bears 55- Knott County Central Lady Patriots 32.
Third Quarter
Harlan County gets on the board first with an inside shot, increasing the lead to twenty- five points with 7:10 remaining in the quarter. Knott County Central #14 Jada Higgins keeps hits a corner three with 4:32 remaining in the quarter reducing the lead to twenty one points. Harlan County 60- Knott County Central 39. The game gets a little chippy as the two teams are tangled up fighting for the ball. Technical foul is called on KCC #20 Briana Akers. Akers is ejected from the game. 3:38 remains in the quarter, Harlan County maintains a twenty- five- point lead. Harlan County 64- Knott County Central 39. Blaire Green of Harlan County starts to take control off the game and scores on several possessions. At the end of the third Quarter Harlan County leads by twenty- eight points. Harlan County Lady Black bears 72 Knott County Central Lady Patriots 45.
Fourth Quarter
Harlan County scores first to open the fourth quarter. Harlan County #14 Lainey Cox scores on consecutive free throws extending the lead to twenty- nine points with 7:11 remaining in the game. Harlan County 74 Knott County 45. Harlan County has established an insurmountable lead and continue to increase the lead. 4:50 remains in the game, Harlan County has established a thirty- one- point lead. Harlan County 80 Knott Central 49. Harlan County Lady Black Bears go on to defeat the Knott County Central Lady Patriots by twenty- nine -points. Harlan County Lady Black Bears 86 Knott County Central Lady Patriots 57.
Harlan County Lady Black Bears advance to the Championship Game of the Girls Bracket. Harlan County will take on the South Laurel Cardinals on Saturday December, 9th, 2017. Knott County Central will also continue competing in the consolation game of the tournament @ 6:45 pm. Knott County Central Lady Patriots will battle The Leslie County Lady Eagles on Saturday December, 9th, 2017 @ 3:15 pm.
Second Game Boys Leslie County Eagles vs Floyd County Central Jaguars
First Quarter
Leslie County gets the ball on the opening tip. Neither team would score and the game was played at a frantic pace for the first two and half minutes. Leslie County Gets on the board first with a three- point basket, Floyd Central counters with a layup on the other end. The game has the atmosphere of a regional championship with both teams competing with every ounce of energy in them, and both schools brought a big excited fan base. Floyd Central takes an early four- point lead with 2:46 remaining in the quarter. Floyd Central 13- Leslie County 9. Floyd Central #1 J.R, Tackett hits on a three- point attempt and the Jaguar lead is extended to seven points. Thirty- five seconds remain in the opening quarter, Floyd Central 18- Leslie County 11. At the end of the first Quarter Floyd Central leads by nine points. Floyd Central 20- Leslie County 11.
Second Quarter
Leslie County Scores first to open the quarter, Floyd County Central J.R. Tacket counters on the next play with the layup. 6:32 remains in the half and Harlan County has increased the lead to nine points. Floyd County Central 24- Leslie County 13. Floyd County Central takes advantage of the mismatch down low and #23 scores two points on a strong post move. Leslie County gets hot from behind the ARC and the Eagles make consecutive three- point baskets. The lead has been reduced to a six -point Floyd Central lead Floyd County Central 26- Leslie County 20, 4:20 remains in the half. Leslie County #25 Ties the game with a corner three- point basket @28. 1:25 remains in the half. The game is tied again @ 30 with 18 seconds remaining in the half. Floyd County Central scores two points late in the half and takes a two -point lead to the locker room. Floyd County Central 32- Leslie County 30. The game between the two teams has been the most evenly balanced so far in this tournament. Every other game I have witnessed has been a large victory by teams that are dominant and more athletic. This game could go either way and has been a joy to watch up to this point.
Third Quarter
Leslie County #3 Whitaker scores on the opening possession of the quarter. The game is tied at 32 with 7:50 remaining in the quarter. South Floyd answers with two unanswered two- point baskets, increasing the lead back to a four- point lead for the Jaguars. The teams trade baskets the next couple of possessions and Floyd County Central maintains a four- point lead with 5:26 remaining in the quarter. Floyd County Central 39- Leslie County 35. Leslie County makes a run and ties the game @ 42 with 2:54 remaining in the quarter. Both teams want this game and on every loose ball multiple players are diving on the court, battling for the ball. It may only be Early December, but the pace and atmosphere of tonight’s opening boys game feels like early March. Both teams are battling and leaving it all on the line. Floyd County Central #1 J.R, Tackett scores a three- point basket as time expires in the quarter. The Jaguars are leading by five points at the end of the third Quarter. Floyd County Central Jaguars 49- Leslie County Eagles 44.
Fourth Quarter
The first minute of the fourth quarter saw multiple scores. Floyd County Central scores two times and Leslie opened the scoring with a layup. 6:19 remains in the quarter Floyd County Central extends the lead to eight points. Floyd County Central 54- Leslie County 46. Leslie County continues to compete and reduces the deficit to five points with 4:29 remaining in the game. Floyd County Central 56- Leslie County 51. Leslie County continues to chip away at the lead and #4 Darron Whitaker connects on a three from the top of the key. Floyd County Central 56- Leslie County 54 with 4:06 remaining in the game. Floyd County Central stops the Eagles run as #1 J.R. Tackett scores on the dive. Floyd County Central now leads by four points. Floyd County Central 58- Leslie County Eagles 54 with 2:24 remaining in the game. Leslie County #25 Cullen Pennington hits a big three- point basket with 1:33 remaining in the game. The game is now a three- point game. Floyd County Central 60- Leslie County 57. Leslie County scores a two- point basket, and the game is now a one- point game with thirty- four seconds remaining in the game. Floyd County Central is hanging on to a one- point lead. Floyd County Central 60- Leslie County 59. Leslie County has the ball after the TV timeout. Leslie County attempts to go for the last shot and #25 Cullen Pennington gets a good luck at the goal, taking a three- point shot. Pennington’s shot is no good and Floyd County Central survives in the Mountain Classic with a one- point win. Floyd County Central 60- Leslie County 59.
Floyd County Central advances to the winner’s bracket of the Mountain Classic. Floyd County Central will play the winner of tonight’s next game against the Perry County Central Commodores and the Clay County Tigers. Leslie County will play in the loser’s bracket against the loser of the next game.
Third Game of the Mountain Classic. Boys Perry County Central Commodores vs the Clay County Tigers.
First Quarter
Perry County Central gets the tip and scores on the opening possession. Clay County counters with a three- point basket on the other end. 7:15 remains in the quarter Clay County 3- Perry County Central 2. The game starts out with a frantic pace and the arena is the fullest that I’ve seen it so far in the WYMT Classic. Perry County Central has a two- point lead of 9-7 with 5:15 remaining in the quarter. At the first media TV timeout Perry County Central leads by four points. Perry County Central 13- Clay County 9. The game has the atmosphere of the Regional Basketball Tournament Final. Hunter Henson of Clay County scores two points on the floater directly after the media timeout. The lead has been reduced to two points. Perry County Central 13- Clay County 11 with 2:42 left in the quarter. Noah Caudill of Perry County enters the game as a reserve and makes his presence known scoring four points and increasing the Commodore lead. PCC leads 20- 15 over Clay County 1:00 remains in the quarter. Perry County Central #22 Jacob Woolum hits a three- point basket at the buzzer and PCC has a nine- point lead at the end of the first quarter. Perry County Central 25- Clay County 16.
Second Quarter
Clay County scores four consecutive points to open the quarter. Perry County Central maintains a five- point lead with 5:20 remaining in the quarter. Chandler Caudill of PCC breaks the scoring drought and hits a three- point shot extending the lead to nine points. 4:26 remains in the quarter PCC 29- Clay County 20. Clay County Comes storming back with 3:58 the PCC lead has been reduced to three points. Perry County Central 29- Clay County 26. Clay County takes the lead with five unanswered points. The lead doesn’t last long as Perry County Central scores a three on the next possession. Perry County Central 32- Clay County 31 with 1:05 remaining in the game. Clay County regains the lead by one point and has the ball as the half is winding down. Clay is fouled and shooting free throws. One shot is made and one shot is missed. At the half Clay County leads Perry County Central by two points. Clay County 34- Perry County Central 32.
Third Quarter
Perry County Central scores first and evens the score @ 34 with 7:30 remaining in the quarter. Perry County Central continues to score the ball as #3 Richard Cornett scores three points on the next possession. PCC steals the ball and Richard Cornett scores two points on the layup in transition. PCC has developed a five- point lead with 5:13 remaining in the quarter. Perry County Central 41- Clay County 36. Clay County scores the next five points and the game is now tied @ 41 with 4:20 remaining in the quarter. Perry County Central’s Noah Back gets the ball and transition and scores two points on the jump shot from the key. Perry County Central leads by three points with 2:42 remaining in the quarter. Perry County Central 49- Clay County 44. Clay County goes on a run scoring the next five points and evens the score@ 49 with forty- five seconds remaining in the quarter. The score remains tied @ 49 as the quarter comes to an end.
Fourth Quarter
The Mountain Classic is on the line and advancing to the winner’s bracket, the games intensity is turned up a notch. Clay County scores the first thee points of the quarter and each team turns up the defensive intensity. Bodies hit the floor diving for loose ball and each possession becomes critical. Clay County extends the lead to six points with 5:04 remaining in the game. Clay County 61- Perry County Central 55. Perry County Central connects on a three point basket with 4:04 remaining in the quarter. The lead is reduced to a point lead for Clay County. Clay County 61- Perry County 60. Clay County goes on another 5-0 run and leads 66- 60. Clay County maintains a five- point lead during under three- minute media timeout, Clay 69- Perry Central 64. Clay County scores two points and increases the lead to seven points with fifty- eight seconds remaining in the game. Perry County’s #3 Richard Cornett hits another three- point basket and the lead is reduced to four points with 46.7 seconds remaining in the game. Clay County 71- Perry County Central 67. Perry stops Clay on the next possession and this another three- point basket, reducing the lead to one point. Clay 71- Perry 70 only thirty- six seconds remain in the game. Clay scores two points and extends the lead to three points. Perry County Central goes to #33 Jacob Woolum he scores two and is fouled. Woolum makes the free throw and the game is tied @ 73. Clay County is fouled with 8 seconds left in the game and makes Both shots, having a two- point lead. Perry has the ball with the chance to tie or take the lead. Perry has a great shot but misses the attempt and Clay County goes on to defeat the Commodores. Clay County 75- Perry County Central 73.
Clay County moves on to the winner’s bracket. Clay County will play Floyd County Central on Friday December 8th, 2017. Perry County Central falls to the loser’s bracket and will face the Leslie County Eagles.
