The Middlesboro girls basketball team couldn’t complete the sweep on Friday after winning both games the prior two days. Powell County carried a seven-point lead into halftime and was able to close out the game with a 69-52 victory over the Lady Jackets.

It was Middlesboro’s only loss in the Chain Rock Classic.

Despite the loss, Baylee Woody put on a good performance finishing the day with a game-high 20 points with 12 coming from three-point range. Lakin Burke added 15 points off the bench while Jamayha Poe tallied eight points.

Dakota Brown paced the Lady Pirates with a team-high 18 points. Ashley King and Macey Howell also finished in double digits for Powell County with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The Lady Pirates took a 30-23 lead into halftime. Powell County had extended the lead to 43-30 by the 4:44 mark in the third quarter. Brown converted the old-fashion three-point play to give the Lady Pirates a 46-30 lead midway through the third.

Powell’s run continued with consecutive baskets to increase the lead to 50-30. A layup by Burke stopped the bleeding temporarily and narrowed the margin to 50-32. A pair of free throws by Alisha Elam increased the lead to 20 before Poe hit a floater at the buzzer to narrow the deficit to 52-34 heading into the fourth quarter.

Powell opened the final period with shots from King and Howell to extend the lead to 54-34 before Tenley Jackson hit a jumper to cut the lead to 56-36.

The Lady Pirates kept the lead at 20 points for the majority of the quarter before Middlesboro began chipping away at the lead with a 3-pointer by Jackson and a pair of free throws by Burke to cut the lead to 66-47.

Powell County went on to claim a 17-point victory over the Lady Jackets.

Up Next

After taking a few days to enjoy the New Year holiday, Middlesboro (4-6) will take the court at 6 p.m. on Jan. 5 when they travel to Bell County (7-6).

Powell County (7-5) returns to action on Jan. 2 against Menifee County (7-3).

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Powell County 69, Middlesboro 52

POWELL COUNTY (7-5)

Ashley King 7 1-2 15, Emily Branham 2 2-6 6, Grace Hall 2 2-2 6, Macey Howell 6 2-4 14, Dakota Brown 6 6-6 18, Alisha Elam 0 2-2 2, Sierra McKinney 2 1-2 5, Breanna Bush 0 2-2 2, Kayla Lacy 0 1-2 1. Totals: 25 19-28 69.

MIDDLESBORO (4-6)

Hannah Warren 0 0-0 0, Baylee Woody 8 0-1 20, Jamayha Poe 2 4-5 8, Malorie Carter 0 0-0 0, Grace Moles 0 0-1 0, Lakin Burke 4 7-8 15, Kailey Owens 0 2-2 2, Grace Gent 0 2-4 2, Tenley Jackson 2 0-0 5, Grace Temple 0 0-2 0. Totals: 16 15-23 52.

Powell County 18 17 17 17 — 69

Middlesboro 10 13 11 18 — 52

3-point goals: Powell County 0, Middlesboro 5 (Woody 4, Jackson 1).

Reach Anthony Cloud at 606-302-9090 or on Twitter @AnthonyCloudMDN