APPALACHIA, Va. – Harlan coach Casey Lester was concerned his Green Dragons would suffer a letdown Wednesday as they faced a Rye Cove (Va.) squad they defeated easily just two days earlier.

“That was the big thing I told them (before the game) — I told them if they didn’t come out ready to play, they wouldn’t play long,” he said.

Message received.

The Dragons used a stifling defensive effort to take control in the first quarter and cruised to a 69-47 victory over the Eagles to claim third place in the Coal Classic at Appalachia High School.

Harlan (4-6) hassled the Eagles into 33 turnovers, including 11 as they set the tone for the game in the first quarter.

“There’s still some things we’ve got to improve defensively,” Lester said. “I felt like we reached a little too much when we were out of position. Offensively, we’re starting to shoot the ball a little better than we had been, and that’s pleasing.”

The high turnover tally limited Rye Cove to just three shots in the first quarter as Harlan grabbed a 12-3 lead. Sophomore forward Tyler Grubbs scored on a pair of putbacks to get the Dragons on the board, and Chris Begley and Tony Spurlock each added three points in the quarter.

The Dragons’ only significant defensive lapses came in the second quarter, as Rye Cove repeatedly beat them up the floor for easy baskets en route to a 19-point outburst. Chase Rollins scored eight points in the period on perfect 4-for-4 shooting, but the Eagles gained no ground as Harlan kept pace. Begley and Philip Ely each scored five points, as did eighth-grader Zach Chitwood, who knocked down five consecutive free throws after missing his first.

Rye Cove didn’t put together consecutive baskets until Rollins and Daniel Giles scored 19 seconds apart in the final minute, cutting the Dragons’ lead to 36-22 at the break.

Harlan opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run in the first three minutes that included seven points by Ely. After Zach Maness scored to slow the momentum, the Dragons reeled off another eight straight points. Aaron Hampton’s 3-pointer at the 3:24 mark put Harlan ahead 53-26, equaling their largest lead of the game.

The Dragons substituted heavily in the final period but got contributions from virtually everyone, as 12 of the 13 players on the roster scored. Spurlock, a senior, and Hampton led Harlan’s bench contingent with six points apiece.

“Some of these kids have just got to be ready when they get the chance in a game like this,” Lester said. “Other than three kids who have played consistently, our bench play has been sporadic — we don’t know what to expect. It’s nice to be able to get some of these kids some playing time and see how they handle it, and tonight they did a good job.”

Maness poured in a game-high 17 points, including an 11-for-12 effort from the line, to lead Rye Cove (1-8). Rollins added 14.

The Dragons were led by Ely and Begley with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Harlan was one play away from having a shot at the tournament championship after falling to Coeburn (Va.) 47-46 on Tuesday.

“I wish we were playing in the championship, just to play in a meaningful game and see how the kids react,” Lester said. “We’ve come a long way since we started. We’ve just got to continue to improve. I’ve said from the get-go that I feel like we won’t hit our stride until mid-January, and we’re seeing glimpses of it.”

Harlan returns to action Tuesday at South Laurel.