By John Henson
Sports Writer
MIDDLESBORO — The Harlan County Black Bears reached the 20-win mark for the third straight year and 10th time in the 17-year history of the school with a blowout 74-23 win Wednesday at Middlesboro.
Senior guard Maddox Huff poured in 30 points to lead the 20-8 Bears. Trent Cole added 12 points and four 3-pointers.
“We were a little sloppy early. We were trying to work on some things,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “Their kids played hard. I like coach (John) Wheat a lot. We worked on some things we may have to use down the road. At times, we executed pretty well. At times we didn’t.”
Cole hit three 3-pointers in the opening quarter while Middlesboro missed all 12 of its shots from the field as the Bears built a 20-1 lead. Huff took over in the second quarter with five baskets as the lead grew to 42-7 at halftime, starting a running clock for the entire second half.
Huff hit four straight shots and Brody Napier added two baskets as the lead grew to 57-13 before Jones went to his reserves.
Freshman center Tucker Curtis had two baskets to close the third quarter as the Bears led 63-15. Sophomore forward Brady Freeman led the Bears in the fourth quarter with two baskets. Landon Brock, Curtis and Kayden Hensley added one basket each.
Joseph Killion led the 8-15 Jackets with seven points.
Harlan County plays host to Harlan on Friday in a girls/boys district doubleheader. Middlesboro plays at Oneida Baptist on Thursday.
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Harlan County 74, Middlesboro 23
HARLAN COUNTY (20-8)
Trent Cole 4-10 0-0 12, Maddox Huff 12-20 0-0 30, Brody Napier 2-4 3-3 8, Reggie Cottrell 0-4 0-0 0, Jaycee Carter 2-5 1-1 5, Brennan Blevins 1-3 0-0 2, Kaden Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Landon Brock 1-2 0-0 2, Bryson Bryant 1-1 0-0 2, Tucker Curtis 3-4 0-0 6, Brady Freeman 2-2 1-3 5, Hayden Grace 0-0 0-0 0, Rydge Lewis 0-1 0-0 0, Hayden Hensley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 29-58 5-7 74.
MIDDLESBORO (8-15)
Mekhi Young 0-4 0-0 0, Joseph Killion 3-13 2-2 7, Jacob Tinnell 2-6 0-0 4, Aiden Larew 1-3 0-0 2, Garrison Warren 1-5 0-0 2, Bryson Brooks 0-1 0-0 0, Brooklyn Huff 0-0 0-0 0, Ayden Allen 2-3 1-1 5, Bryson Heck 0-0 0-0 0, Major Shirley 0-0 0-0 0, Dalton Fleet 0-2 0-0 0, Emmitt Butler 1-1 0-1 2, Nathan Nichols 0-0 0-0 0, Issac Harris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 9-49 2-4 22.

Harlan County 20 22 21 11 — 74
Middlesboro 1 6 8 8 — 23
3-point goals: Harlan County 11-27 (Huff 6-12, Cole 4-10, Napier 1-2, Cottrell 0-1, Carter 0-1, Blevins 0-1), Middlesboro 3-24 (Killion 3-9, Young 0-2, Tinnell 0-2, Larew 0-2, Warren 0-2, Brooks 0-2, Young 0-2, Harris 0-3). Rebounds: Harlan County 44 (Carter 10, Huff 9, Cottrell 6, Curtis 5, Napier 4, Bryant 3, Freeman 2, Cole 1, Blevins 1, Brock 1, Grace 1, Hensley 1), Middlesboro 23 (Tinnell 5, Larew 4, Killion 4, Warren 3, Brooks 3, Shirley 2, Harris 2), Turnovers: Middlesboro 9, Harlan County 9. Fouled out: None.