Noah spoils magical season as Tigers fall 66-60

It’s been the Achilles heel all season long for the Tigers and it cost them a spot in the region championship game. Clay missed six of 13 free throws in the quarter to fall 66-60.

It was a game they had every chance to win. They held a five-point lead entering the final period. It became the Trent Noah show from there.

Noah finished the period with 15 points and 43 overall. He was 12-22 from the floor and 17-20 from the line. He also finished with 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Clay didn’t get their first field goal of the quarter until Elijah Buddy’s putback at :31.5 with them trailing 60-56.

The Tigers held their biggest lead of the third quarter at 43-34 on a bucket by Aiden Grubb. The freshman scored six points in the quarter and led the team with 15 points.

Harlan clawed back into the game from the free throw line as they hit 9-13 from the charity stripe.

As good players do, Noah scored 15 of the Black Bears 17 in the quarter, eight from the line.

Trailing 14-11 entering the second quarter the Tigers came out hot.

An and one bucket by Harris tied the game at 14. A quick bucket by Noah put the Black Bears back ahead, their last lead of the half as Clay went on a 12-5 run to boost the lead out to 26-21.

The three-pointers were falling as Roark nailed three three-pointers. Clay hit 4-6 three’s in the first half. Harris scored nine points in the quarter as Clay expanded the lead to 10 at 36-26. Maddox Huff hit a put back to leave the score at 36-30 at the half.

The opening quarter was a wrestling match. Harlan County’s Caleb Johnson, who finished with four fouls in the half, wrestled Harris to the ground. A foul was called, but not a technical. Just seconds later Roark hits a jumper in the lane and was hit with a technical raising the ire of the Tiger faithful, players and coaching staff.

Clay jumped out to a quick lead in the first on back-to-back buckets by Bundy.

CLAY COUNTY: Hayden Harris 14, Jerrod Roark 13, Elijah Bundy nine, Aiden Grubb 15, Ethan Jackson nine.

HARLAN COUNTY: Trent Noah 43, Maddox Huff 11, Reggie Cottrell seven, Jaycee Carter five.