CORBIN — Knox Central used a 9-0 run to open the second half while holding Harlan County scoreless for the first five minutes of the third quarter to pull away and record a convincing 70-41 win during first round action of the 13th Region Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
Led by Shelbie Mills’ 28-point scoring effort, the Lady Panthers improved to 25-4 while the Lady Black Bears end the season with a 9-23 mark.
Mills finished the game with seven rebounds, and five assists while hitting 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Halle Collins added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while McKenzie Hensley finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Jaylee Cochran led Harlan County with 13 points.
Knox Central took control early in the game thanks to Collins, Hensley and Mills, who combined to score 17 points in the first quarter.
Both Collins and Hensley scored six points apiece while Mills added five points to give the Lady Panthers a 17-9 advantage entering the second quarter.
Mills knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining to give a Knox Central a 22-11 advantage.
She added five more points during the next three minutes while Collins added two points, giving Knox Central a 31-13 lead with 2:21 left in the first half.
The Lady Panthers took a 31-19 lead into the locker room at halftime after the Lady Black Bears closed out the first half with a 6-0 run.
Knox Central shot 13-of-34 in the first half, including going 3-of-8 from 3-point range. The Lady Panthers outrebounded Harlan County, 17-10, in the first half.
Jaylee Cochran led the Lady Black Bears with eight points in the first half while Harlan County turned in a 5-of-15 effort from the floor.
Knox Central put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run to open the second half while holding the Lady Black Bears scoreless for the first five minutes of the third quarter.
By the time Harlan County scored, the Lady Panthers opened up a 40-21 lead.
Knox Central entered the final quarter of play with a 50-22 advantage.
