In their 5-0 start, the Harlan Lady Dragons appeared to have gotten past the turnover problems that had haunted them during stretches of recent seasons.

The visiting Middlesboro Lady Jackets brought back some bad memories Tuesday as they forced Harlan into 18 turnovers in the first half to build a 22-point lead in the second quarter on the way to a 72-50 victory.

“We talked about getting off to a good start. We knew we had to match their energy and quickness,” Harlan coach Chuck Mitchell said. “We had a great scouting report on them, but obviously we didn’t initiate it. Middlesboro executed its gameplan.”

“I didn’t think we created that many turnovers the first half, but we were able to pick up the pressure on their guards and find their shooters and made it hard to get open looks,” Middlesboro coach Elgie Green said. “I think it got our offense going. Our kids did a nice job in transition of being smart and not overpenetrating. We penetrated and kicked it out to find open shooters.”

Middlesboro (2-2) has become a guard-oriented team following the graduation of their twin towers of recent seasons — Brooklyn Jimison and Ashley Williams.

“We don’t want to get into halfcourt game against bigger and stronger teams in the post,” Green said. “We want to pick the tempo up and get them running up and down the floor.”

Green describes all five of his starters as guards and notes that the Lady Jackets will count more on 3-pointers this season. Middlesboro hit nine against Harlan, three each by Ashley Mason, Carissa Overbay and Sophie Robinson.

“We are more dependent on the 3 without the inside threats we had the past couple of years,” Green said. “We’re trying to spread people out and look for the open shot. It may be one of those years where you live and die by the 3. Ashley, Carissa and Sophie shot the ball extremely well tonight.”

“They had to shoot 70 percent from the field,” Mitchell said. “A lot of the shots were contested, but they were just making shots.”

With the Lady Dragons forced to extend their defense to cover the shooters, senior guard Shaleesha Coleman sliced to the basket time and time again in a 24-point performance that included a 12-for-12 showing at the free throw line. Robinson and Mason each scored 14 points, and Samantha Coleman added 11.

Harlan (5-1) was led by 17 points from senior forward Chassidy Lawson and 12 from freshman guard Miranda Davenport.

Lawson and Alexandria Allison had the only baskets for Harlan in the first quarter as Middlesboro capitalized on eight turnovers to built a quick 16-6 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Robinson.

The Lady Dragons pulled to within seven by the end of the period, but Middlesboro regained the momentum quickly in the second quarter as Harlan turned the ball over 10 times.

Samantha Coleman had three baskets in the period while Shaleesha Coleman and Robinson each added two as Middlesboro stretched its lead to 31-11 with 3:14 left in the first half.

The lead grew to as many as 22 points before baskets by Cheyenne Hamblin and Davenport cut the deficit to 18 by halftime.

Harlan started the third quarter strong with baskets by Lawson and Hamblin to pull within 14 before a Middlesboro timeout followed by a trey from Overbay stemmed the Lady Dragons’ surge.

Middlesboro pushed back out to a 22-point advantage before Harlan closed strong again on a pair of 3-pointers by Davenport to make the score 52-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

Harlan could get no closer in the fourth quarter as Middlesboro built its lead to as many as 25 points when the Lady Dragons began fouling on purpose with the game out of reach.

The Lady Dragons return to action in the KSA Events Holiday Basketball Tournament on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla. The Lady Jackets will play host to Harlan County on Friday in another district contest.

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MIDDLESBORO (2-2)

Sophie Robinson 5-12 1-2 14, Ashley Mason 5-10 1-3 14, Shaleesha Coleman 6-12 12-12 24, Samantha Coleman 4-10 3-6 11, Carissa Overbay 3-8 0-0 9, Rayann Moyers 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Hatchell 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Moyers 0-0 0-0 0, Emily Pannachio 0-0 0-4 0, Haley Goodman 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Hensley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-54 17-27 72.

HARLAN (5-1)

Miranda Davenport 4-14 1-3 12, Belinda Patton 0-3 0-0 0, Alexandria Allison 3-11 1-2 8, Chassidy Lawson 5-11 7-9 17, Anne Corey Johnson 2-5 0-0 4, Cheyenne Hamblin 3-12 2-4 9, Sarah Scruggs 0-0 0-0 0, Madison Ball 0-1 0-0 0, Chelsea Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Chelsea Burchfield 0-0 0-0 0, Whitney Brewer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 17-59 11-18 50.

Middlesboro 16 22 14 20 —72

Harlan 9 11 16 14 —50

3-point goals: Middlesboro 9-23 (Mason 3-5, Overbay 3-6, Robinson 3-8, Moyers 0-1, Sh. Coleman 0-3), Harlan 5-23 (Davenport 3-7, Hamblin 1-6, Allison 1-7, Ball 0-1, Patton 0-2). Rebounds: Middlesoro 38 (Sh. Coleman 13), Harlan 35 (Lawson 12). Turnovers: Middlesboro 24, Harlan 24. Fouled out: None.