LONDON — After hitting 45 percent from the field in their last three games, the shooting woes that plagued the Lady Dragons early in the season returned Tuesday. Harlan made only three shots in the first half in a 52-33 loss to Mason County in the Cardinal Candy Cane Classic at South Laurel.

The cold-shooting Lady Dragons went three for 20 from the field to open the game and had eight points at the half.

“It was a poor shooting night. We had been shooting good from the field in the last three games. But, we didn’t shoot it well tonight,” said Harlan coach Chuck Mitchell.

Harlan wasn’t the only team having trouble finding the basket in the first quarter, as the Lady Royals only hit two field goals of their own to take a narrow 6-4 lead at the end of the period.

Mason County (9-3) heated up in the second quarter, going seven for 12 in the period. Guards Keller Menke, who scored a game-high 13 points, and Bailey Menke scored seven points each to lead the Lady Royals in the quarter.

Keller Menke scored the opening basket of the second quarter before Harlan senior center Anne Corey Johnson answered with a field goal of her own on the other end to bring the Lady Dragons back to within two. However, Mason County went on a 16-2 run to end the period, stretching its lead to 16 points at the half.

The Lady Royals did a good job of keeping the ball out of the hands of Harlan’s inside duo of Johnson and sophomore forward Ashley Mullins. The pair of 6-footers have carried the Lady Dragons for much of the season but were held to four points in the first half.

“I think it was combination of pressure on the ball — and we don’t handle that well. When we catch them open we have to get it in the post, and that is something that we have not been able to do,” said Mitchell about the Lady Dragons’ inability to get the ball into the interior. “We catch the ball and see them open and still don’t throw it to them. I think after we talked to them at half-time and after the game they should realize that’s where our money is.”

A lay-up from sophomore guard Madison Ball sparked the Lady Dragons to start the second half. Harlan limited the Lady Royals to only two field goals in the period, while senior guard Cheyenne Hamblin scored six points in the period to bring the Lady Dragons to within nine at the end of the period. Hamblin finished with eight points to lead Harlan.

“They came back in and played hard. There is no quit in this team. I think in the second half we got better at the point guard position,” said Mitchell. “I think Madison Ball became a point guard and understood what her roles is and how she has to be strong with the basketball, and that’s what we have been waiting on. When she fully understands that we are going to be a much better team.”

However, Harlan was unable to get any closer as Mason County outscored the Lady Dragons 21-11 in the fourth quarter for the win.

Harlan (6-5) will face Allen Central in the tournament’s fifth place game today at 2 p.m. The Lady Dragons defeated Allen Central 73-29 in the second session of the Candy Cane Classic on Monday.

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MASON COUNTY (9-3)

Courtney Moraw 3-3 1-2 9, McKayla Likons 1-3 0-0 2, Keller Menke 3-7 6-8 13, Ketelyn Smith 3-9 3-4 11, Elizabeth Queen 1-6 0-0 3, Alicia Moore 2-4 1-2 5, Bailey Menke 4-5 0-0 9, Cristen Cropper 0-2 0-0 0, Kierra Gibbs 0-1 0-0 0, Mariah Henry 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 17-24 11-16 52.

HARLAN (6-6)

Madison Ball 2-7 0-0 5, Cheyenne Hamblin 3-11 2-3 8, Sarah Scruggs 0-5 6-6 6, Ashley Mullins 2-5 2-2 6, Anne Corey Johnson 3-12 0-4 6, Jourdan Ledford 1-3 0-0 2, Gabrielle Rehnborg 0-1 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Stittums 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha Henson 0-0 0-0 0, Chelsea Burchfield 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 11-44 10-15 33.

Mason Co. 6 18 7 21 — 52

Harlan 4 4 14 11 — 33

3-point goals: Mason County 7-17 (Moraw 2-2, Smith 2-7, Keller Menke 1-2, Queen 1-2, Bailey Menke 1-2, Cropper 0-1, Gibbs 0-1), Harlan 1-7 (Ball 1-1, Burchfield 0-1, Hamblin 0-5). Rebounds: Mason County 21 (Keller Menke 6), Harlan 31 (Johnson 15). Turnovers: Mason County 15, Harlan 20. Fouled out: None.