ORLANDO, Fla. — North Laurel’s nine-game winning streak came to an end on Monday as the Lady Jaguars fell 58–40 to Ocoee, Fla., in the championship game of the Florida Prospects Classic.
Despite the loss, North Laurel finished the tournament as runner-up and moved to 9–2 on the season.
Mariella Claybrook led the Lady Jaguars with 21 points, accounting for more than half of North Laurel’s offense. Laylee Phillips added seven points in the loss.
North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan credited Ocoee for its play while also taking responsibility for areas where his team struggled.
“It’s never easy to lose, regardless of who you’re playing,” he said. “Ocoee is one of the top teams in Florida and without question one of the best — if not the best — teams we’ve faced all season. A lot of our struggles were a direct result of their pressure and defensive intensity, and they deserve credit for that.
“That said, I felt mental and physical fatigue set in during the second quarter, and that falls on me,” Mahan added. “Our preparation didn’t put our team in the best position to handle momentum swings, and good teams make runs harder to stop when you’re not fully prepared. That responsibility is mine as the coach. We did have some positive stretches, and this game clearly showed us where we still need to grow. We’ll learn from it, respond the right way, and use this experience to keep getting better.”
