The Middlesboro Yellow Jackets traveled to Harrogate, Tenn. this week to play in the LMU Railsplitter’s annual basketball team camp held at Tex Turner Arena. The Jackets downed John L. Burton High School out of Norton, Va. 56-46 on Friday.

“At times we have looked really good,” said Middlesboro coach Lewis Morris. “Other times we’ve looked a little unorganized. We are having some troubles on offense right now, and we’ve got to get that fixed up as quickly as we can. We are trying to get guys to play well in space and without the ball. We want guys moving around when they don’t have the ball to create offense, and we are having a tough time doing that right now.

“They’re doing what they’re supposed to do defensively, for the most part. We have had some guys diving after loose balls and hustling well for us. We just need to establish some depth. We’ve been trying to get some guys some playing time that didn’t play much last year to get ourselves some depth. We lost quite a few seniors last year, and it’s going to take us a little bit of time to establish what we want to do.”

Middlesboro started the game on an 11-2 run before Burton answered with an 11-2 run of their own to knot the game at 13-13. The Yellow Jackets then went on a 4-0 run take a 17-13 lead. However, Burton answered with a 4-0 run of their own, tying the game again at 17-17.

Both teams began to find their rhythm on offense in the final four minutes of the first half, with Middlesboro taking a 25-23 lead with just over two and a half minutes remaining in the half. Burton pulled to within one point at 27-26 with just over one minute remaining in the half. The Yellow Jackets added one more bucket before half time to take a 29-26 lead into the break.

Middlesboro opened the second half on a 7-0 run, extending their lead to 36-26, before the Raiders went on a 4-0 run to bring the score to 36-30. With just over seven minutes remaining in the game, the Yellow Jackets added a three-point basket to extend their lead to 46-38.

With just over four minutes remaining, Middlesboro extended their lead to the largest of the game, leading 54-38. Although the Yellow Jackets’ offense went stagnant in the final four minutes, they continued to out rebound the Raiders and hold on to secure a ten-point victory in their last game of the day.