CORBIN — The 2025 13th Region Girls’ Basketball Tournament tips off Monday with Eddie Mahan’s North Laurel Lady Jaguars looking to 3-peat as 13th Region champions.
North Laurel has dominated the 13th Region landscape, posting a 97-8 (.923 winning percentage) against regional foes since the 2018-19 season. The Lady Jaguars also boast the best record overall of any 13th Region team during that span, going 194-39 overall for a winning percentage of .832.
Eddie Mahan’s squad enters this year’s tournament with a 28-2 record along with an 11-1 record against regional opponents. They captured their eighth consecutive 49th District championship last week while winning their 54th straight game against district opponents.
The lone regional team to defeat North Laurel this season, the South Laurel Lady Cardinals, have the talent to win their first regional crown since the 2020-21 season.
Tod Windland’s squad is the only team in the region to have a perfect record (15-0) against 13th Region teams this season. They captured the 50th District Tournament championship last week, and look to make a deep postseason run with their solid defensive play.
Knox Central entered the season as the team to beat in the 51st District, and they lived up to all of the preseason hype by capturing the 51st District Tournament championship last week over Pineville. The Lady Panthers are 14-2 against 13th Region opponents.
Harlan came out on top as the 52nd District Tournament champions. The Lady Green Dragons have been consistent the entire season, posting an 11-8 mark against regional opponents.
Jackson County enters the tournament as the 49th District runner-up while posting a 5-10 record against 13th Region teams.
If there is one runner-up to keep an eye on, it has to be Isaac Wilson’s Corbin Lady Redhounds, who entered the season as one of the top teams in the region.
Corbin has been inconsistent of late while going 10-7 against regional opponents.
Pineville and Harlan County are the 51st District and 52nd District runner-ups.
The Lady Mountain Lions have improved since the beginning of the season, posting an 8-7 mark against 13th Region opponents.
The Lady Black Bears pulled off the biggest win during any of the 13th Region’s district tournaments last week by defeating Bell County. Harlan County is another team that has improved tremendously since the season tipped-off. They are 6-17 against regional opponents.
First Round Matchups
Monday, March 3
Knox Central (24-4) vs. Harlan County (9-22), 6 p.m.
The Lady Panthers look to become the first 51st District girls’ team to reach the semifinals in consecutive years since the realignment.
They faced off against Harlan County on Jan. 9, coming away with a 61-20 victory.
Knox Central has won the last six meetings between the two teams. The last time the Lady Black Bears defeated the Lady Panthers was back on Feb. 21, 2020.
South Laurel (23-5) vs. Jackson County (14-14), 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Cardinals enter as the hottest team in the tournament, winning 18 out of their last 19 games, including a 60-39 road win over Jackson County on Jan. 2.
South Laurel is 16-0 against the Lady Generals during the two teams’ last 16 meetings. The last time Jackson County defeated the Lady Cardinals was Jan. 13, 2009.
Tuesday, March 4
Harlan (20-13) vs. Corbin (18-10), 6 p.m.
This could be the most interesting first round matchup.
The Lady Green Dragons look to be peaking at the right time while Corbin is 9-9 since starting the season with a 9-1 record.
Harlan handed the Lady Redhounds their worst loss of the season just two weeks ago, winning at home, 74-32. Corbin had won the past seven meetings between the two teams before the 42-point loss.
North Laurel (28-2) vs. Pineville (11-17)
The Lady Jaguars opened the season with an 80-21 win over Pineville.
The two teams will do battle once again with the Lady Mountain Lions looking to grab only their second win ever against North Laurel. They defeated the Lady Jaguars, 57-36, on Dec. 11, 2012. North Laurel has won the past six meetings and lead the overall series, 9-1.
13th Region RPI Ratings
1. North Laurel .72001
2. South Laurel .65666
3. Knox Central .65432
4. Corbin .59418
5. Harlan .55593
6. Jackson County .55602
7. Pineville .48069
8. Harlan County .45320
L4 Security 13th Region Media Network Rankings
1. North Laurel
2. South Laurel
3. Knox Central
4. Harlan
5. Corbin
6. Jackson County
7. Pineville
8. Harlan County
L4 Security 13th Region Media Network 13th Region Top 10 Players
1. Brooke Nichelson, North Laurel
2. Halle Collins, Knox Central
3. Abby Gilbert, Jackson County
4. Kylie Clem, Corbin
5. Shelbie Mills, Knox Central
6. Kylie Noe, Harlan
7. Mariella Holbrook, North Laurel
8. Jamie Buenaventura, South Laurel
9. Maci Messer, South Laurel
10. (Tie) Rachel Howard, Pineville
10. (Tie) Aymanni Wynn, Harlan
13th Region Tournament Top 15 scorers
1. (Tie) Abby Gilbert, Jackson County 23.0
1. (Tie)Brooke Nichelson, North Laurel 23.0
3. (Tie) Kylie Clem, Corbin 20.1
3. (Tie) Halle Collins, Knox Central 20.1
5. Shelbie Mills, Knox Central 18.2
6. Rachel Howard, Pineville 18.0
7. Aymanni Wynn, Harlan 16.8
8. Kylie Noe, Harlan 16.6
9. Ava Arnett, Pineville 15.3
10. Maci Messer, South Laurel 14.4
11. Raegan Walker, Corbin 13.2
12. Peyshaunce Wynn, Harlan 12.3
13. Mariella Claybrook, North Laurel 10.3
14. (Tie) Lydia King, Corbin 10.2
14. (Tie) Kyle Runions, Harlan County 10.2
13th Region Tournament Top 10 Rebounders
1. Halle Collins, Knox Central 13.7
2. Abby Gilbert, Jackson County 12.4
3. Rachel Howard, Pineville 9.1
4. Brooke Nichelson, North Laurel 8.7
5. Mariella Claybrook, North Laurel 8.6
6. (Tie) Raegan Walker, Corbin 7.4
6. (Tie) Aymanni Wynn, Harlan 7.4
8. (Tie) Madison Johnson, Pineville 7.0
8. (Tie) Kylie Noe, Harlan 7.0
10. Jamie Buenaventura, South Laurel 6.9
11. Ava Arnett, Pineville 6.0
12. Annslee Nichols, Jackson County 5.2
13. Lacey Robinson, Harlan County 4.7
14. Skeeter Mabe, South Laurel 4.6
15. Raegan Landa, Harlan County 4.5
