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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LONDON \u2014 Two 13th Region heavyweights met at The Cardinals\u2019 Nest Thursday with No. 3 South Laurel hosting No. 1 Bell County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bobcats entered the game as the hottest team in the region despite having a 10-day layoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cardinals continue to show why they\u2019re one of the best teams in the region by pulling off a 56-49 win over Bell County while snapping the Bobcats\u2019 10-game win streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFirst, I want to thank Coach Sizemore for coming and playing, so we could make sure we had a senior night for our guys,\u201d South Laurel coach Jeff Davis said. Also, I want to say how great it is to have him, Ashley and the baby home from the hospital. Been a stressful time for them and it says a lot that the day they get to come home, he comes and plays a game. First Class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnother tough battle against a really disciplined and well-coached team,\u201d he added. \u201cThey are tough to defend because you have to stay focused all the time and then you have to finish the possession off with a rebound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProud of our guys, been a touch stretch of games and they have battled through it well,\u201d Davis continued. \u201cHappy for our seniors, they mean so much to me and this program and was glad we got to honor them tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brad Sizemore\u2019s squad led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter but played catch-up the remainder of the game with South Laurel holding leads of 25-21 at halftime, and 38-31 entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cardinals secured the win in the final eight minutes by hitting 12-of-14 free throw attempts. Bell County knocked down 11-of-12 shot attempts from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought our kids played hard tonight in a tough environment on the road,\u201d Bell County coach Brad Sizemore said. \u201cI think this game will help us moving forward heading into postseason play. Coach Davis did a really good job having his kids ready to being and I thought South\u2019s size bothered us at different times in the game, but I\u2019m really proud of our guys for not quitting. I love our group and think we got the pieces to make a good run in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bell County\u2019s Blake Burnett led all scorers with 22 points while Cameron Hall added eight points, and Braxton Ferguson finished with seven points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n