LAUREL – Both basketball games were stark contrasts from the first time Hardin and Laurel met this season, but ultimately the Bulldogs pulled off a pair of road wins.
After losing at home to Laurel in December, Hardin’s girls used a fast start and hot outside shooting to win Friday night 62-47. The Bulldogs led 33-18 at halftime and put it out of reach with a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter.
In the late showdown, Hardin’s boys escaped with a 75-71 victory after winning the first meeting 62-29 at home.
The Bulldogs built a 15-10 lead after one quarter. Laurel’s Levi Taylor tied it at 23 with a breakaway dunk in the second, but the Locomotives still trailed 35-29 at intermission. Hardin increased the lead to 51-40 entering the fourth quarter, then held off a Laurel surge.
Hardin plays at Sidney on Saturday. Laurel faces Billings West.
