Jaguars face tough task in knocking off defending region champion Harlan County
CORBIN — If North Laurel is going to advance to the 13th Region Boys’ Tournament championship,
It’s going to have to dethrone the defending 13th Region champion Harlan County.
The Jaguars dominated during their opening round win over Corbin, but will now face-off against a Black Bears squad that defeated Knox Central on Wednesday.
The two teams didn’t face-off against each other this season while Harlan County won the last meeting between the two teams on Jan. 6, 2024, 65-58.
The two teams have played 14 times with both teams winning seven games apiece.
North Laurel enters with a 20-10 mark and a three-game win streak.
The Jaguars are led by Reece Davidson, who is averaging 21.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Jordan Rawlings is averaging 10.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. RJ Noble is scoring 8.3 points per game while grabbing 4.0 rebounds per game. Wednesday’s star, Kole Jervis, averages 7.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game while Cooper Elza is scoring six points a game while one of the top assists leaders in the region. Corey Cunagin 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Cam Anderson is averaging 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
Maddox Huff, who has already taken home two 13th Region Player of the Year honors, leads Harlan County with a 29.9 scoring average while
pulling down 8.1 rebounds per game. Jaycee Carter averages 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while Reggie Cottrell is averaging 9.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Trenton Cole is averaging 9.2 points per game while Brody Napier is averaging 8.2 points per game.
Mountain Lions Set for Final Four Showdown Against South Laurel, Aiming for Upset
CORBIN — It’s a classic David vs. Goliath matchup as the 13th Region’s No. 1 ranked team, South Laurel, faces off against Class A school Pineville in Saturday’s 13th Region Boys’ Tournament Final Four.
The Cardinals (24-8) have dominated opponents throughout the season, and will now have to find a way to get past a Mountain Lion squad that is 8-2 during their last 10 games. They stunned Clay County on Thursday with a 73-68 win.
South Laurel is coming off an impressive, 59-43, win over Bell County.
The Cardinals have played Pineville once in program history, coming away with a 70-44 first round win during the 2023 13th Region Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
South Laurel enters the game as the favorite, but this is a different Pineville team with the addition of Jeremiah Beck.
The Mountain Lions are loaded with talent, and a roster that consists of nine seniors.
Sawyer Thompson is averaging 22.4 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game while Becky is averaging 18.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Ashton Moser is averaging 18.1 points per game and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game while Cameron Puckett is averaging 9.1 points per game. Kaiden Robbins is tossing in 6.7 points per game while Preston Zachery is averaging 3.5 points per game.
The Cardinals enter the game as not only the best defensive team in the region but one of the best defensive teams in the state.
South Laurel has limited 15 opponents to under 50 points or less this season while allowing only 59.8 points per game.
The Cardinals are led by Jordan Mabe, who is averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Colton Rawlings is averaging 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Joshua Steele is averaging 9.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while Kaiden McQueen is averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Max Fullmer tosses in 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while Garrison Brown, Landon Howard, Blaine Baker, Kaden Taylor, and Brendan Murphy also produces quality playing minutes for South Laurel.
