CORBIN — The 2025 13th Region Boys’ Tournament could be one for the ages with all first round matchups proposing interesting story lines.
But before we get to the first round matchups, let’s take a look at each team.
Jeff Davis’ South Laurel Cardinals enter the tournament as one of the favorites after turning in a 23-8 record while playing one of the toughest schedules in the state.
Defending 13th Region champion Harlan County comes in as the 52nd District champion, and has the firepower to repeat as region champs. The Black Bears have been battle-tested and sport a 24-8 record.
Pineville (51st District champion), and North Laurel (49th District champion) are two teams that are playing well, and also possess the talent to make a run at the 13th Region crown.
The Mountain Lions are 21-9, and captured their first district crown since 2008 while the Jaguars regained the 49th District crown with an impressive win over Clay County. Both teams have shown this season, they can beat anyone in the region.
Brad Sizemore’s Bell County Bobcats (26-6) fell in the district finals to Harlan County, a team they had already beaten twice this season. The Bobcats have the talent to cut down the nets at the Corbin Arena this week.
Clay County (49th District runner-up), Corbin (50th District runner-up), and Knox Central (51st District runner-up) are all dangerous as well.
The Tigers, and Redhounds are only one of three regional teams (Harlan County is the other) that have beaten South Laurel while the Panthers possess a young and talented squad that can play with anyone in the region.
First Round matchups
Wednesday, March 5
Harlan County (24-8) vs. Knox Central (22-7), 6 p.m.
The two teams didn’t meet this season with the Black Bears owning a 109-89 victory over the Panthers during their last meeting on Feb. 20, 2024.
Harlan County is 11-2 against 13th Region opponents while the Panthers are 13-2.
North Laurel (19-10) vs. Corbin (19-10)
These two teams are no strangers to each other.
They’ve went head-to-head twice since Feb. 6 with the Redhounds winning both games, 63-58, and 66-61.
North Laurel is 9-5 against regional teams while the Redhounds possess a 13-5 record against regional opponents.
The Jaguars are 11-2 against Corbin dating back to 2017, but the Redhounds have won the past two meetings.
Thursday, March 6
South Laurel (23-8) vs. Bell County (26-6), 6 p.m.
The Cardinals hosted the Bobcats on Feb. 20, and came away with a 56-49 win, snapping Bell County’s 10-game win streak. The matchup was Brad Sizemore’s squad’s first in 10 days.
South Laurel is battle-tested, going up against some of the best teams in the state. The Cardinals are 13-3 against regional foes while the Bobcats are 12-3.
South Laurel has won 12 of the last 13 meetings against Bell County. The Bobcats last victory over the Cardinals came on Jan. 8, 2022.
Pineville (21-9) vs. Clay County (21-7), 7:30 p.m.
The two teams met way back in Dec. 17, 2014 with Mike Jones’ Tigers coming away with an 86-74 win over the Mountain Lions.
But this is a far different Mountain Lions squad compared to the two teams’ first meeting — adding Jeremiah Beck to the mix changes things up.
Clay County has won the past four meetings between the two teams with Pineville’s last win over the Tigers on Nov. 30, 2021.
13th Region RPI Ratings
1. Harlan County .64902
2. South Laurel .64783
3. Bell County .64017
4. Clay County .60740
5. North Laurel .60090
6. Knox Central .59540
7. Corbin .59521
8. Pineville .57900
L4 Security 13th Region Media Network Rankings
1. South Laurel
2. Harlan County
3. Bell County
4. Corbin
5. North Laurel
6. Pineville
7. Clay County
8. Knox Central
L4 Security 13th Region Media Network 13th Region Top 10 Players
1. Maddox Huff, Harlan County
2. Jordan Mabe, South Laurel
3. Reece Davidson, North Laurel
4. Sawyer Thompson, Pineville
5. Blake Burnett, Bell County
6. Grayson Burton, Knox Central
7. Ryder Akins, Corbin
8. Adon Grubb, Clay County
9. Ethan Buell, Bell County
10. Jaycee Carter, Harlan County
13th Region Tournament Top 15 scorers
1. Maddox Huff, Harlan County 30.0
2. Sawyer Thompson, Pineville 23.0
3. Reece Davidson, North Laurel 21.3
4. Grayson Burton, Knox Central 21.1
5. Jordan Mabe, South Laurel 20.3
6. Ryder Akins, Corbin 18.4
7. Jeremiah Beck, Pineville 18.3
8. Ethan Buell, Bell County 18.2
9. Ashton Moser, Pineville 18.1
10. Blake Burnett, Bell County 17.8
11. Evan Ellis, Corbin 16.0
12. Tydus Summers, Knox Central 15.2
13. Cameron Hall, Bell County 14.1
14. (Tie) Adon Grubb, Clay County 11.8
14. (Tie) Conner Middleton, Corbin 11.8
13th Region Tournament Top 10 Rebounders
1. Hayden Melton, Knox Central 10.7
2. Reece Davidson, North Laurel 9.8
3. Adon Grubb, Clay County 9.7
4. Eli Pietrowski, Corbin 9.3
5. Jaycee Carter, Harlan County 8.4
6. Maddox Huff, Harlan County 8.1
7. Ashton Moser, Pineville 7.8
8. (Tie) Ryder Akins, Corbin 7.1
8. (Tie) Jeremiah Beck, Pineville 7.1
10. Aiden Wagers, Clay County 7.0
11. Blake Burnett, Bell County 6.9
12. Grayson Burton, Knox Central 6.0
13. Jordan Mabe, South Laurel 5.9
14. Sawyer Thompson, Pineville 5.8
15. Ethan Buell, Bell County 5.7
