The Harlan County Black Bears are one win away from accomplishing program history by winning the boys’ basketball team’s first state championship.
Harlan County has the chance tonight to accomplish the feat when they take on Lyon County.
The Black Bears reached the KHSAA Sweet 16 title game by defeating defending state champion Warren Central (67-59), Campbell County (85-71), and Evangel Christian (55-47) while the Lions have defeated Ashland Blazer (45-43), Adair County (80-65), and Great Crossing (60-49).
Harlan County has been led by senior Trent Noah, who has committed to play for the University of South Carolina.
Noah has dominated throughout the Sweet 16, scoring 35 points and pulling down 11 rebounds against Warren Central while adding 48 points and nine rebounds against Campbell County. He followed with a 29-point, 10-rebound effort against Evangel Christian. Noah now trails former North Laurel star Reed Sheppard by 37 points. Sheppard finished his career with 3,727 points while Noah currently has 3,690 points.
Lyon County’s Travis Perry, who has signed with the University of Kentucky, and was named Mr. Basketball a few weeks ago.
Perry has scored more than 5,000 career points while scoring 16 points against Ashland Blazer, 21 points versus Adair County, and 24 points against Great Crossing.
But both teams are more than just their leading scorers.
Harlan County’s Maddox Huff is averaging more than 17 points per game in the state tournament while Reggie Cottrell has shown he’s the best defender at the tournament while hitting clutch shots against Campbell County and Evangel Christian. The Black Bears’ Jaycee Carter, Caleb Johnson and Brody Napier can do damage as well.
The Lyons’ possess Brady Shoulders and Jack Reddick, who are both solid at scoring and rebounding. Bray Kirk and Lukas Breedlove contributes along with Carson Collins, and Isaac Defew.
Keys of the game are simple for the Black Bears: Noah and Huff need to combine to score more than 50 points while remaining out of foul trouble.
Both teams must find a way to slow down the other’s leading scorer.
Can Harlan county contain Perry? Or the bigger question, can Lyon County find a way to slow down Noah?
Fatigue will play a big key, too.
The Black Bears are six deep, can they withstand one more game?
I believe so. I said at the beginning of the tournament they could win it all, and guess what? They’re going to.
Prediction
Harlan County 63, Lyon County 58
