LONDON — As the 2024-25 season tipped off, the North Laurel Jaguars basketball team had one goal in mind — to win the 13th Region championship.
Throughout the season, the Jaguars faced numerous challenges, garnering a preseason No. 3 ranking in the region and later being having to go against the toughest road possible to win the region by defeating Corbin, defending 13th Region champion Harlan County, and crosstown rival South Laurel after being predicted as the fifth ranked team going into the tournament.
Predictions are meant to be proven wrong, and North Laurel did just that.
The Jaguars triumphed in all three games of the regional tournament, culminating in a thrilling title game where they defeated the Cardinals in overtime, 49-44.
“No matter the circumstances the goal has always remained the same — wanted to win the region and make it to Rupp Arena,” North Laurel coach Nate Valentine said. “It’s great to go to the State Tournament but it’s even better to go and win some games. With a core nucleus returning, we felt like this team had the potential to make a run at the region. We tried to put together a challenging schedule that would help us grow throughout the season.”
The schedule Valentine put together challenged his team from start to finish.
The Jaguars began the season with a 3-0 mark, defeating Lexington Catholic, 6th Region champion Jeffersontown, and Henry Clay.
“We really liked this team early in the season. We started the season with quality wins over top 25 teams. Then we hit December and January, and just couldn’t close out games. We had played well enough to have the lead late in games but couldn’t quite come up with the winning play we needed. We lost four straight games. While this could have derailed many teams, I think that stretch galvanized our team and led us to where we are now.”
Wins at Boyle County, Madison Central and Pulaski County is when Valentine felt his team had a chance of making a deep postseason run.
“We felt like we had a team that was capable of winning three games at the region tournament,” he admitted. “We played the region tournament scenario a couple of times this season, trying to encourage our team to win three straight games against quality opponents.
“Through all the losses, distractions, highs and lows, this team has been able to keep their head down and work,” Valentine added. “No matter the circumstances, our guys have come back the next day and gone to work. If they were struggling throughout the season, they have gotten in the gym before school, on the weekends or after practice, they have worked their way through the struggles. All year, we’ve had effort-based results. When we play with max effort, we’ve been as good as anyone. Above all else, they have been a team and stuck together. It’s been a total team effort.”
From the starters to role players, Valentine said his players have stuck with each other and continued to get better as the season progressed.
“Kole Jervis started off slow this season but has been terrific the last month and continues to be a guy we can lean on in pressure situations,” he said. “Jordan (Rawlings) and Reece (Davidson) have provided much needed consistency and are guys we can count on every night. Cooper (Elza) has continued to improve all season and has controlled the game for us on both ends of the floor.
“RJ (Noble) has been a warrior for us all season,” Valentine added. “His stats may not always show up on the stat sheet but we are so much better with him on the floor. Outside of our starting five, our bench has given us tremendous minutes. Cam (Anderson) and Corey (Cunagin) have given us a boost at key times on both offense and defense. Brayden Hampton and Kaiden Allen have provided a spark at needed times and have been readily available to step up if needed. Evan Zarate has brought tremendous energy and leadership to the team all season. The other guys that don’t get minutes in our varsity games, Deacon (Good), Trendon (Dykes), Colton (Asher), Asher (Edwards), and Trey (Smith), have been great in our preparation and made our guys that get the majority of the minutes get better.”
With his team ready to make a run at the program’s first state title, Valentine said his the 13th Region Tournament run was something to remember.
“Corbin had beaten us twice earlier in the year but I really felt like we had a great chance to get them in the tournament,” he said. “Then we faced the defending champions, Harlan County, and won that game in overtime after trailing by as many as nine. In the finals, we took down another team that had beaten us twice earlier in the year — each game it was a different guy that stepped up and made plays.
“Getting to Rupp Arena is what you dream of as a player and a coach,” Valentine added. “This is something these guys will remember for the rest of their lives. These guys have worked hard and I’m extremely happy they will get to reap the rewards from their work. This is an entirely new group that went to Rupp two years ago. It says alot about the work and determination this group has to get North Laurel back to the State Tournament. It’s great to see the entire North Laurel family come together and get behind this team.”
