LEXINGTON — Trent Noah did it again and ended Evangel Christian’s magical postseason run.
Noah scored 29 points — hitting 16 of 18 free throws — to lead Harlan County to a 55-47 victory over Evangel Christian on Saturday in the semifinals of the UK Healthcare Sweet 16 in front of 12,618 fans at Rupp Arena.
Noah, a 6-foot-6 senior who has signed with South Carolina, is averaging 37.3 points over three Sweet 16 games.
“He’s a great player,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “We have a lot of great players. … He’s going to do whatever it takes to win. If he gets 10 and we win or if we gets one and we win, he’s going to be happy.”
Maddox Huff added 15 points and nine rebounds for No. 12-ranked Harlan County (34-4), which will face Lyon County in Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. state final.
Harlan County is the first Eastern Kentucky school to reach the state final since 2011, when Rowan County dropped a 65-63 double-overtime decision to Christian County.
“Any time a mountain school accomplishes what these guys have accomplished, they’re legends forever in Eastern Kentucky,” Jones said. “It’s just special.”
In the Sweet 16 for the first time, No. 9 Evangel Christian (31-7) shot just 29.4% (15 for 51). That included a 5-for-25 clip (20%) in the second half.
Harlan County used an 11-5 run in the third quarter to turn a 32-30 halftime lead into a 43-35 edge.
Eagles coach Larry Miller said his team shot too many 3-pointers (5 for 25) and didn’t battle on the boards (a 38-32 Harlan County advantage).
“We could never get into any offensive rhythm whatsoever,” Miller said. “We shot 29%, and that’s never happened to us. You have to give credit to Harlan County for playing excellent defense.”
Kyran Tilley scored 25 points to lead the Eagles. Christian Doerr chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds while battling foul trouble.
“Shots weren’t falling,” Tilley said. “We had a little fatigue, but the other team did, too.”
It was a disappointing finish to a breakthrough season for Evangel Christian. The Eagles won the Sixth Region for the first time in program history and recorded their first-ever win over Louisville power Trinity in Friday’s quarterfinals.
“I hope it inspires little kids that think just because you go to a little private school that you can’t do it,” Doerr said. “We’re here in the final four, and nobody thought we could do it.”
EVANGEL1218512 - 47
HARLAN CO.15171112 - 55
Evangel Christian (31-7) – Isaiah Chitapa 2, Christian Doerr 17, Kyran Tilley 25, Johnny Djema 3.
Harlan County (34-4) – Caleb Johnson 4, Reggie Cottrell 6, Trent Noah 29, Maddox Huff 15, Brody Napier 1
Lyon County 58, Great Crossing 49
High school basketball fans in Kentucky waited four months for a Great Crossing-Lyon County matchup.
The Lyons needed just two minutes to put it away.
Travis Perry, Jack Reddick and Bray Kirk hit 3-pointers during a 10-0 run early in the third quarter that propelled Lyon County over Great Crossing.
“Whenever you hit a couple of shots, you can feel the whole county kind of roaring behind us,” Perry said. “It’s a good feeling. … Whenever you’re in those moments, you’re not going to miss those 3s.”
No. 1-ranked Great Crossing (36-2) suffered its first loss of the season to a Kentucky opponent and saw its 24-game winning streak come to an end. No. 4 Lyon County (35-3) advanced to the state final for the first time.
Lyon County led 28-26 early in the third quarter before the decisive run. Brady Shoulders started it with a free throw before Perry’s 3 made it 32-26 at the 7:17 mark. Reddick’s 3 made it 35-26, and Kirk’s bomb gave the Lyons a 38-26 edge at the 5:21 mark.
Great Crossing never got closer than five points the rest of the way. The Warhawks shot just 37% (17 of 46) and were 5 of 20 from 3-point range.
“We just didn’t make shots,” Great Crossing coach Steve Page said. “Couldn’t get the timely stops, couldn’t get the timely loose balls. … Probably the big difference is Travis Perry didn’t play for those other teams (we beat).”
Perry, the University of Kentucky signee and Mr. Basketball winner, led Lyon County with 24 points. Shoulders added 13 points and four steals.
Perry had the ball in his hands much of the fourth quarter as Lyon County attempted to run out the clock.
“If we can do that for a couple of minutes and wear them down and get some fouls, it’s a great way to end the game,” Perry said. “I’m proud of the way we did that.”
Gage Richardson hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points to lead Great Crossing. Malachi Moreno, a 7-foot-1 junior center, added 12 points and 14 rebounds.
LYON COUNTY 15131614 - 58
GREAT CROSSING1681213 - 49
Lyon County (35-3) – Lukas Breedlove 4, Bray Kirk 6, Brady Shoulders 13, Jack Reddick 11, Travis Perry 24.
Great Crossing (36-2) – Jeremiah Godfrey 6, Malachi Moreno 12, Vince Dawson 11, Junius Burrell 4, Gage Richardson 16.
Sacred Heart makes history:Valkyries complete KHSAA Sweet 16 4-peat
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
