By John Henson
Sports Writer
CORBIN — When you aren’t playing that well, as was the case for the Knox Central Lady Panthers through much of their opening-round game Monday in the 13th Region Tournament against Middlesboro, it helps to get as many shots at the basket as possible. That proved to be Knox Central’’s key to success with a 43-22 advantage on the boards that led to a 66-45 advantage In shots taken on the way to a 63-51 victory.
“That’s what saved us,” Knox Central coach Steve Warren said. “We had two girls in double figures in rebounds. If we don’t do that, this might be a different story.”
“Rebounding hurt us. When a team is getting second, third and fourth shots, it’s hard to compete with that,” Middlesboro coach Sally Adams said. “I think our girls got tired, but that’s no excuse.”
Junior guard Shelbi Mills scored 22 points to lead the 24-5 Lady Panthers. McKenzie Hensley, also a junior guard, chipped in with 13 points. Sophomore Kaylynn Smith did much of her damage on the boards with 19, including 11 on the offensive glass. Kylie Smith added 11 rebounds
Sophomore guard Emily Lambert led the 14-13 Lady Jackets with 21 points. Junior guard Millie Roberts scored 15, and senior guard Addyson Larew added 11.
Both teams struggled to hit shots early with only basket for each team through the first four minutes. A Kylie Smith basket helped the Lady Panthers go up 10-6 after one quarter.
Mills heated up in the second quarter, reeling off her team’s first seven points as Knox took a 19-8 lead. Knox led 33-22 at halftime by hitting 14 of 35 shots from the field.
Lambert scored the first eight points of the third period as she brought Middlesboro back. Roberts and Lambert hit back-to-back 3s as the Lady Jackets went on top 36-35. Mills answered with two straight treys as Knox took a 44-41 lead into the final quarter.
Middlesboro stayed close as a Lambert 3 with 3:02 left pulled the Lady Jackets within five, but a 3 by Hensley started a 7-1 run that put the game away. Knox’s advantage on the boards showed down the stretch as the Lady Panthers grabbed rebounds twice on missed free throws in the final two minutes.
“They played really hard, and they are here for a reason,” Warren said of the Lady Jackets. “We didn’t play very well just to be honest with you. We didn’t play the way we normally, whether it was nerves or whatever. We shoot the ball pretty well, but we settled too much. They played harder than we played.”
Middlesboro was making its first appearance in the regional tournament since 2011 and Adams was proud of their effort and how they fought back several times.
“Knox is a great basketball team with a great coach, but we didn’t want to just settle for being here. We wanted to win,” she said.
After breaking a 17-year losing streak in the first round of the regional going back to 2001, the Lady Panthers have now won three straight first-round games. They haven’t made it to the next round since 1998 when they lost to Harlan in the finals.
“We’ve been here five years in a row now, and we want a little more, but these girls have to want the same thing,” Warren said. “I know they do, and I’m hoping Friday night we play better.”
Knox Central will play the South Laurel-Clay County winner on Friday at 6 in the semifinals.
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Knox Central (63) — McKenzie Hensley 13, Shelbie Mills 22, Kailey Gambrel-Garrison 3, Kaylynn Smith 7, Kylie Smith 8, Shelbi Smith 7, Charis Frederick 3.
Middlesboro (51) — Morgan Martin 4, Addyson Larew 11, Millie Roberts 15, Emily Lambert 21, Trinity Derossett 0, Lily Partin 0, Azailah Petty 0.
Middlesboro 6 16 19 10 — 51
Knox Central 10 23 12 18 —` 63
