LOG MOUNTAIN — The Bell County Lady Cats blew open Monday’s game against Barbourville with a big second quarter and cruised to a 67-29 win.

Neysa Kelly, who led the Lady Tigers with 13 points, hit a long jumper and then drove in for a layup to bring Barbourville within 10-8 late in the first period.

But Bell’s Brittany Smith followed her own miss for a basket inside and Maci Morris converted a steal into a 6-foot runner in the lane to put the Lady Cats up 14-8 at the end of the first.

It was a sign of things to come as the Bell County press was too much for the young Lady Tigers to handle.

They forced numerous turnovers in the second period and converted most of them into easy baskets. The Lady Cats out-scored Barbourville 27-11 in the second quarter to take a commanding 41-19 lead into the half.

“Our defensive pressure was a big factor,” said Bell coach David Teague. “We really didn’t play tremendously well in our halfcourt offense, but the press gave them some problems and once we got out to a little bit of a lead the momentum built and just carried us from there.”

Bell’s defensive effort didn’t stop after the half as the Lady Cats held Barbourville to just two points in the third quarter and stretched their lead to 30, 51-21, after three.

With both teams substituting heavily in the fourth quarter the Lady Cats went on win by 38.

Smith came off the bench to lead Bell with 14 points and Morris joined her in double figures with 13. In all ten different Lady Cats dented the scoring column with starters Whitney Howard and Brianna Freeman scoring eight each and freshman center Paige Robbins leading the third wave with seven.

Bell County (13-7) plays at Middlesboro Friday while Barbourville (4-17) is next scheduled to play at Harlan County Saturday.

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The Lady Cats won the junior varsity game 30-15. Morris led the way with 10 points while Morgan Garnett added nine, Robbins seven and Kaci Smith four.

Kiki Ford led Barbourville with five points and Taylor Bunch added four.

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Barbourville 8 11 2 8 — 29

Bell County 14 27 10 16 — 67

BARBOURVILLE (29): Neysa Kelly 13, Kelsey Smith 6, Kori Hammons 3, Tyraa Bunch 3, Kara Erslan 2, Kiki Ford 2, Kristin Shupe 0, Taylor Ford 0, Taylor Bunch 0, Michaela Rose 0, Brandi Hembree 0, Justus Lacefield 0.

BELL COUNTY (67): Brittany Smith 14, Maci Morris 13, Whitney Howard 8, Brianna Freeman 8, Paige Robbins 7, Jamie Shepherd 5, Makayla Neal 4, Morgan Garnett 4, McKayla Elliott 3, Erin Enix 1, Jenny Rose 0, Taylor Wilson 0, Kaci Smith 0, Courtney Carroll 0, Jessica Dixon 0.