By Bill Templeton
Sports Writer

Swarming defensive pressure and the red-hot hand of sophomore Ethan Buell was more than enough to propel Bell County to a lopsided 89-38 victory over host Middlesboro on Friday night at Fuson Brothers Gymnasium.
Buell led a balanced Bobcats scoring attack with a game-high 24 points, including three 3-point baskets. Senior Cameron Hall added 16 points for Bell, and junior Blake Burnett scored 15 points in his first basketball action of the season. Junior Cayden Huff also scored 13 points for Bell.
The score was tied twice during the early stages of the first quarter before the Bobcats reeled off 11 straight points to assume command.
A long 3-point basket by Hall staked the visitors to a lead they would not relinquish, and four players scored at least two points during the run.
Following a 3-point basket by Middlesboro sophomore Bryson Brooks that cut the Bell lead to 15-9, Buell scored six of the Bobcats’ final 13 points of the quarter to push his team to a 28-16 lead through the first eight minutes.
Bell employed full-court pressure throughout a majority of the second quarter, and the Bobcats’ tenacity on defense ignited offensive efficiency to further extend their lead.
Five Bobcats scored during a 19-2 run during the second quarter to make it 47-18, and a 14-4 scoring run to end the stanza made it, 63-28 at halftime.
Playing with a running scoreboard clock for the entirety of the second half, Bell coach Brad Sizemore pulled his starters by the midpoint of the third quarter. Nine Bobcats broke into the scoring column by game’s end, including nine points by freshman Kaleb Cornett.
Brooks scored a team-high 14 points for Middlesboro, while junior Joseph Killion chipped in with nine points.
Middlesboro (1-3) is back in action Saturday at Bell County High School for a noon matchup against Berea in the Pride of the Mountains Showcase. Bell County (3-2) is also scheduled in the Pride of the Mountains Showcase, with a 6 p.m. game against George Rogers Clark.

Bell County (89) — Hall 16, Buell 24, Huff 13, Burnett 15, Ferguson 6, Cornett 9, Brock 2, Black 2, Grubbs 2
Middlesboro (38) — Young 2, Killion 9, Tinnell 2, Larew 4, Warren 4, Brooks 14, Miracle 3

Bell County 28 35 17 9 — 89
Middlesboro 16 12 8 2 — 38