[Harlan County Bears]

The Harlan County Lady Black Bears beat the Clay County Lady Tigers 59-49.

[Harlan County Bears]

Should be 59-49.

[BLT FAN]

The game went in to overtime.

[Basketball Wizzard]

Great Win for the Lady Bears!! Congrats!

[RunItUpTheGut]

Huge win for Harlan County.
I didnt think Harlan County could do it, especially after watching them struggle with other region teams.

[Harlan County Bears]

Lady Bears knock off Clay

JOHN MIDDLETON

Sports Editor

After years of frustration against 13th Region power Clay County, the Harlan County Lady Bears cleared one of the program’s final hurdles on Saturday. Harlan County outlasted the Lady Tigers 59-49 in overtime to pick up its first win over the four-time defending regional champions.

Harlan County led by as many as 10 in the third quarter, before the Lady Tigers mounted a comeback. A free throw from Kaitlyn Stittums gave the Lady Bears their largest lead at 38-28 with 1:15 remaining in the third, but Cheyenne Madden scored with 32 seconds left in the period to reduce the deficit to eight.

The Lady Tigers continued to climb back in the fourth quarter. Clay went into the post throughout the period, with Madden and Morgan Chesnut combining for nine points. A pair of free throws from Bella Noe gave Harlan County a 44-40 lead with 3:18 left, but the Lady Bears were held scoreless for the rest of regulation. Madden cut the deficit to two with a putback and Chesnut tied the game with a pair of free throws with 2:20 remaining.

Kaitlyn Stittums put the Lady Bears up in overtime with a basket, but Ajaycia Cotton responded with a trey to give the Lady Tigers a one-point lead. It was all Harlan County from that point. The Lady Bears outscored Clay 13-2 the rest of the way to pull away for the win.

Stittums had seven points in the extra period to power Harlan County.

Brooklyn Massingill had nine of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter to lift the Lady Bears to a 13-11 lead. With Massingill on the bench due to foul trouble, Stittums tossed in four points in the second quarter as the Lady Bears extended their lead to 28-23.

Harlan County forced six turnovers in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead. Massingill had five more points in the period.

Harlan County (17-1) returns to action Monday at Hazard, while Clay County (11-3) will host Rockcastle County.

—-

Harlan County (59) — Kaitlyn Stittums 15, Brooklyn Massingill 18, Lauren Lee 8, Madison Cornett 0, Sarah Evans 8, Keisha Mimes 4, Bella Noe 6.

Clay County (49) — TaLaura Mathis 8, Ajaycia Cotton 6, Sara Robinson 15, Cheyenne Madden 8, Morgan Chesnut 10, Briana Smith 2.



Read more: The Harlan Daily Enterprise - Lady Bears knock off Clay

[Black Bear Fan]

Huge win for Harlan County.
I didnt think Harlan County could do it, especially after watching them struggle with other region teams.

:please: If you have watched or followed Harlan Co. this year you would know this team is for real. I'm not suprised they won. Their defense has been solid all year. They have several players who can step up and lead them offensively. Also don't forget the 13th Region will be played at HC. :Thumbs:

[bball lover]

17-1. Way to go Lady Bears. Great win for a great team! Puttin my money on HC vs ALL 13th Region teams.

[X's and O's]

Solid win for Harlan Co. Looks like 13th is going to be interesting come tourney time.

[Basketball Wizzard]

:please: If you have watched or followed Harlan Co. this year you would know this team is for real. I'm not suprised they won. Their defense has been solid all year. They have several players who can step up and lead them offensively. Also don't forget the 13th Region will be played at HC. :Thumbs:

This will be a BIG PLUS for the Lady Bears come tournament time for sure!

[lillianhidgepork]

I see they clamped down on Guts 13th region #1 player Madden. Looks like she scored 8 biguns. Congrats to Massingil and the Bears.

[HDE]

I see they clamped down on Guts 13th region #1 player Madden. Looks like she scored 8 biguns. Congrats to Massingil and the Bears.

I believe he had Smith at No. 1.
The coaches in the region picked Madden just ahead of Morris.
HCHS has done a great job defensively on several of the region's top players. I don't know if it's a good idea to make fun of high school players though.

[RunItUpTheGut]

:please: If you have watched or followed Harlan Co. this year you would know this team is for real. I'm not suprised they won. Their defense has been solid all year. They have several players who can step up and lead them offensively. Also don't forget the 13th Region will be played at HC. :Thumbs:

They barely got past Barbourville and could only manage 39 points against Harlan. Thats what i was meaning by struggling. Bville has a good record but hasnt played anybody.
Yes, im surprised Harlan County won this game, as well as every other non-HC fan out there.

It was at HC though.....

[RunItUpTheGut]

I believe he had Smith at No. 1.
The coaches in the region picked Madden just ahead of Morris.
HCHS has done a great job defensively on several of the region's top players. I don't know if it's a good idea to make fun of high school players though.

I had Smith as preseason but to this point, I believe Madden is the top player.

[E's Army]

13th region will be fun to watch this year. Being at Harlan could be a big factor.

[Basketball Wizzard]

13th region will be fun to watch this year. Being at Harlan could be a big factor.

It is anyone's ballgame this year..I think coaching will play a major role in who eventually comes out on top!:blabbermo

[Warthog]

Everyone is catching up with Clay

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
Its about time nicker:

Theyve owned this region for nearly a decade

[UKCC]

The Lady Tigers take a year off about every 5. Lol

[HDE]

It's not been quite that long.
If you remember, Jackson and Rockcastle had the dominant teams for a number of years. I think Clay went almost a decade without winning that district after winning something like the first 22 (from 75 to 96).

[RunItUpTheGut]

It's not been quite that long.
If you remember, Jackson and Rockcastle had the dominant teams for a number of years. I think Clay went almost a decade without winning that district after winning something like the first 22 (from 75 to 96).

Good fact check.
The Sarah Elliot years at Jackson were some memorable ones.
I remember the 2001 regional tourney where Whitley met Jackson County in the finals after Jackson hadnt lost a game the entire year. Of course, Jackson won, but it wasnt that bad of a game. It was at Cawood that year and I was shocked when Jackson actually lost to Lex Cath that year in the state tourney.

Didnt the Clay County run start in 06? I think theyve won the last 6. Thats pushing a decade.

[HDE]

I was thinking four - three against Harlan County in the finals.
I think South won in 2007.

[RunItUpTheGut]

I was thinking four - three against Harlan County in the finals.
I think South won in 2007.

Your right.
After checking the KHSAA site, South beat them in 08, not the 07 tourney, however, Clay won it in 07, and lost to Rock in the 06 finals.

The last time Clay didnt make it to the region finals was the 04 season when they lost to Rock in the district tourney.

Making it to the region championship game every year since 04 is a pretty good run.

[Granny Bear]

Your signature pic looks like Darth Vador; is it supposed to?

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
Ray Lewis!
Greatest LB of all time!!!!!