LONDON — North Laurel shook off a slow start before settling into rhythm and pulling away for a 65–44 win over Hazard on Saturday.
The Lady Jaguars struggled early energy-wise but responded with dominant second and third quarters to take control.
“We didn’t come out with the energy or basketball IQ we expect from ourselves early on,” North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said. “The standards of our program were not met. The first quarter just wasn’t us. We finally settled in during the second and third quarters and started playing with more purpose. I was proud of the way we responded once we got going.”
North Laurel (2-1) led 13–10 after one quarter and stretched the advantage to 34–23 by halftime. By the time the fourth quarter came around, the Lady Jaguars were firmly in control with a 52–33 lead.
Mariella Claybrook paced the Lady Jaguars with 14 points, while Paisley Robinson and Bella Lewis each added 12 points. Kaylee Phillips contributed eight points as the Lady Jaguars continued to display their depth.
Depth, in fact, played a major role in the win, according to Mahan.
“I thought we got some really solid minutes from our bench tonight,” he said. “We had another eighth grader step up, Paisley Robinson, gave us a great boost and continues to show she belongs at this level. Our depth is a blessing, but it’s also something we’re going to have to learn how to manage as coaches. We’ve got multiple kids who can be the difference maker on any given night, and figuring out the right combinations is going to be a big part of our growth. And credit to Hazard, they always play hard and compete. They make you earn everything, and they definitely did that tonight.”
