North Laurel used a strong first half and a steady defensive effort after halftime to pull away from Perry Central, earning a 60-43 win Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the WYMT Mountain Classic.
The Jaguars led 19-18 after the first quarter before stretching the margin to 37-28 at halftime. They continued to control momentum in the second half, carrying a 50-38 advantage into the fourth quarter and never letting the Commodores climb back into striking distance.
“I’m happy we came away with the win tonight,” North Laurel coach Nate Valentine said. “We lost discipline defensively early but did a much better job in the second half. We are gradually getting back in sync offensively but still have a ways to go. This is a great early season tournament and we are excited to be in the semifinals on Friday night.”
Reece Davidson paced North Laurel with 19 points, including eight in the opening quarter to set the tone. Cooper Elza knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, while Corey Cunagin scored 10. Kaiden Allen added nine points, and RJ Noble chipped in eight as the Jaguars’ balance helped secure the victory.
North Laurel now sits at 3-1 on the season and will compete Friday night for a chance to reach the Mountain Classic championship game.
