LONDON — The North Laurel Lady Jaguars got a little payback Thursday, knocking off rival South Laurel 51-44 after falling to the Lady Cardinals 60-55 earlier this season.
With the win, North Laurel improves to 15-6 while South Laurel slips to 16-6.
North Laurel came out sharp, jumping to an 18-10 lead after the first quarter, but South Laurel answered and took a 28-22 advantage into halftime after a strong second period.
The Lady Jaguars regrouped after the break and edged back in front, holding a 37-35 lead entering the fourth quarter. North pushed the lead to 43-37, but South battled back to cut it to 43-42.
That’s when Laylee Phillips delivered one of the biggest shots of the night — a clutch 3-pointer that gave North Laurel a 46-42 cushion as the Lady Jaguars closed the game on an 8-2 run.
Senior Haley Combs led the way for North Laurel, drilling three 3-pointers and finishing with 18 points. Mariella Claybrook added 13 points, Bella Mahan scored eight, Bella Lewis chipped in six while Phillips and Molly Morgan had three points apiece.
Skeeter Mabe led South Laurel with 11 points while Maci Messer and Kenzie Fannin scored nine each. Callie Jones and Ryleigh Bretz finished with six points apiece, and Aubrey Bundy added three.
North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan praised his group’s effort.
“I couldn’t be happier for this group,” he said. “That was as together as we’ve played all season. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, our kids were connected, encouraging each other, and playing for each other. That’s North Laurel basketball.
“Our defensive effort and focus tonight were outstanding,” Mahan added. “We were locked in on the scouting report, we communicated better, and we played with some toughness. Haley Combs was tremendous at the point guard spot. Her poise, and ability to set the tone for us. She controlled the game, made the right reads, and hit big shots when we needed them.
“I also want to highlight Molly Morgan’s defensive effort,” he continued. “She was relentless, physical, and fully committed to doing the dirty work. Her energy and attention to detail on the defensive end made a huge difference for us. We had some great shots by Bella Mahan and Laylee Phillips hit a big three late in the game. This win was a total team effort. Everyone embraced their role, trusted each other, and competed for one another. I’m extremely proud of this group and the way they represented North Laurel tonight.”
South Laurel coach Tod Windlan said his team has to tighten things up.
“We came out sluggish and then regroup and played a solid second quarter on both ends of the floor,” he said. “Thought we shot the ball poorly in second half and was the result of poor shot selection and were not ready to shoot. Cannot shoot 9-of-16 from the free-throw line in a close game.
“We need to get a lot better defensively and recognize what a good shot is and a poor shot is,” Windlan added. “This game will make us better for tournament play. North Laurel, in my opinion, wanted the ball more in certain possessions that were vital down the stretch. Skeeter Mabe played a very solid game for us with 11 points, Kenzie Fannin had nine and Maci Messer had nine. Go Cards.”
