CORBIN — North Laurel wasted little time taking control Friday.
The Lady Jaguars exploded out of the gate and never looked back, defeating Bell County 61-35 in the semifinals of the 13th Region Girls’ Basketball Tournament at The Arena.
With the win, North Laurel improved to 24-6 and earned a berth in the 13th Region championship game for the eighth time in school history. Bell County finished its season at 23-8.
Eddie Mahan’s squad will now face-off against crosstown rival South Laurel in Saturday’s 13th Region title game.
The last time the two teams met with a trip to Rupp Arena on the line came in 2021 with the Lady Cardinals pulling off a 63-57 win.
“One thing that stood out tonight was our balance offensively,” Mahan said. “We had four players in double figures and another with eight points. When we’re sharing the ball and getting that kind of scoring from multiple players, we become really difficult to guard. It speaks to the depth of this team and the unselfish way they play.
“I was a little disappointed with our third quarter,” he added. “We took a few shots that were out of character for us, and that led to some transition opportunities for them. Against good teams, those are the kinds of stretches that can let someone back in the game, so that’s something we’ll clean up. Bell County has two outstanding players in Lamb and Allen. They’ve been one of the best duos in the region all season, and we knew coming in that we were going to have to play well to beat them. Our kids did a good job competing and staying disciplined defensively.
“It’s always good to be back in the championship game,” Mahan continued. “That’s where you want to be this time of year, and I’m proud of our kids for putting themselves in that position again. They came out with great focus and really executed the game plan for most of the night. Now the focus shifts to tomorrow. Championship games are special, and we’re excited for the opportunity to go compete for another title.”
North Laurel set the tone early with a dominant first half against the Lady Bobcats.
The Lady Jaguars built a 19-8 lead after the first quarter and extended that advantage to 40-15 at halftime thanks to a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive pressure.
Bell County attempted to chip away at the deficit in the third quarter, but North Laurel maintained control of the game and held the Lady Bobcats to just 35 points, well below their season scoring average.
Mariella Claybrook led the Lady Jaguars with 14 points and 12 rebounds while Haley Combs added 14 points, six assists, and seven steals. Bella Lewis contributed 10 points, and Jaylee Phillips finished with 10 points. Bella Mahan had eight points, and Ella Hubbard finished with five points.
Kairi Lamb led Bell County with 15 points while Bristal Jordan added 10 points for the Lady Bobcats.
North Laurel shot an impressive 53.1 percent from the field and controlled the boards 25-17.
The Lady Jaguars now own a 26-14 all-time record in the 13th Region Tournament and will be seeking its fifth regional championship. Bell County fell to 26-33 all-time in the regional tournament.
