CORBIN — South Laurel has thrived defensively the entire season, and it wasn’t any different during Thursday’s first round action of the 13th Region Boys’ Tournament.
The Cardinals stifled Bell County’s offensive attack throughout the contest, and cruised to a 59-43 victory.
Jeff Davis’ squad limited the Bobcats to 31.6 percent from the floor (12-of-38), and 2-of-6 (33.3 percent) from 3-point territory while out-rebounding them, 22-15.
South Laurel shot 14-of-29 from the floor, and a red-hot 5-of-8 from behind the arc.
Jordan Mabe led the Cardinals with 22 points and seven rebounds while hitting 16-of-18 shot attempts from the free-throw line. Colton Rawlings scored 12 points, hitting 4-of-7 shot attempts from 3-point territory. Joshua Steele added 10 points and five rebounds, a block and an assist.
“I’m really proud of our guys and the team,” Davis said. “I thought we were highly focused defensively, and we executed the offensive game plan well. I’m especially proud of how we rebounded the ball, particularly in the first half. We need to work on finishing games better, but we survived and advanced, and that’s what matters this time of year.”
Cameron Hall led the Bobcats with 11 points while Ethan Buell scored nine points. Blake Burnett scored eight points, and Jaxon Thomas finished with seven points.
South Laurel’s defensive pressure set the tone early.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind a 3-pointer from Rawlings and baskets by Mabe and Max Fullmer.
Bell County didn’t score its first points until the 2:50 mark of the opening quarter and didn’t hit its first field goal until 1:52 remaining.
South Laurel took a 12-6 lead into the second quarter.
The Cardinals continued to lead throughout the second quarter. They outscored the Bobcats, 16-11, and took a 28-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
South Laurel shot 9-of-16 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The Cardinals held Bell County to 6-of-18 from the floor, and 0-of-2 from 3-point territory.
Rawlings led South Laurel with nine points in the first half on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. Fullmer had six points while Mabe and Steele scored four points apiece.
Hall led the Bobcats with six points while Ethan Buell had four points, and Cayden Huff scored three points.
Both teams traded baskets throughout the third quarter as Bell County cut its deficit to 37-29 with under a minute remaining but a 3-pointer by Rawlings to end the period pushed the Cardinals’ lead back to double digits at 40-29.
The Bobcats cut their deficit to 44-36 with 4:09 remaining, but four consecutive points by Steele, and two free throws by Mabe gave South Laurel a 51-36 edge with 2:59 left in the contest, wrapping up the win.
