![](\"https:\/\/www.13thregionmedianetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/untitled-2-14-1024x876.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LONDON \u2014 Different faces in different places, but one thing remains the same, until someone in the 13th Region eliminates North Laurel in the 13th Region Tournament, the Lady Jaguars remain the team to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eddie Mahan\u2019s squad has been the dominant team in the 13th Region since the 2017-18 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During that time, North Laurel has won four region titles, including the past three while compiling a 13th Region-best 225-47 record, three Elite Eight appearances, seven 13th Region title game appearances, eight consecutive 49th District championships, a 104-13 record against 13th Region teams, and a 54-game win streak against 49th District opponents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pretty impressive, huh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Jaguars are coming off a 32-3 campaign that saw them win their third region crown in a row before bowing out in the Elite Eight of the KHSAA Sweet 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that said, North Laurel graduated one of, if not the best, girls\u2019 player to ever grace the halls of North Laurel High School in Brooke Nichelson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nichelson led the Lady Jaguars with a 23.8 scoring average, and an 8.9 rebounding average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne thing our teams have consistently carried from year to year is a strong understanding and expectation of winning,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cThat\u2019s what a healthy culture creates \u2014 older players naturally pass down our standards and values to the younger ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast season also revealed areas we need to improve,\u201d he added. \u201cThe final two minutes of our Elite Eight game were a clear example of poor execution. That group put us in position to win, but our inability to finish offensively ultimately cost us. This year\u2019s team has an even smaller margin for error and must learn from that tough experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A solid summer leads many to believe North Laurel could very well win its fourth straight region crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOverall, I was very pleased with our summer,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cMy goal during that time is always to promote our players, challenge our team, and identify what we need to improve on both individually and collectively. In all those areas, this summer was a success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe faced a tough schedule and performed well in most games, but more importantly, it exposed our weaknesses,\u201d he added. \u201cWith the loss of our seniors, we knew new players would need to step up and score and that wasn\u2019t an issue. What limited us were fewer rebounds, steals, and overall possessions. This year\u2019s team doesn\u2019t have the same length as last season\u2019s, so our success in those areas will be important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One player that is expected to fill Nichelson\u2019s void is Mariella Claybrook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claybrook is a hot commodity among Division I schools after averaging 10 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also joined by a solid nucleus of talent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Mariella Claybrook \u2014 she has 17 college offers. She is a 6’2 forward and the most versatile player Mahan has had. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe can dominate in the post or handle the ball on the perimeter to help break a press,\u201d he said. \u201cShe continues to improve daily, and her confidence is improving as her skill level does. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Haley Combs \u2014 \u201cShe is great point guard, who holds two college offers currently,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cShe is the prototypical pass first point guard. She will need to look to score more this season to help balance our offense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Bella Lewis \u2014 \u201cShe started nine games before she got hurt,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cShe is a 5’4 guard that is extremely quick and is a good player on both sides of the ball. She can shoot the three or utilize her speed to beat you off the dribble. Will be called upon to guard the opposing team\u2019s best guard on a nightly basis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Bella Mahan \u2014 \u201cShe started in seven games, and is a 5’4 combo guard, who is very skilled. She is a good shooter who can also help handle the ball and initiate the offense. She was top three in scoring and assists this summer on the team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahan mentioned some possible new starters could be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Laylee Phillips \u2014 \u201cLaylee was coming off the bench this summer and still was our second leading scorer,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cHer skill level is elite, but she will need some time to get used to the level of play. I look forward to seeing what she can develop into as a player this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Paisley Kilburn \u2014 \u201cShe is a good athlete and has tremendous potential,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cConsistency has been the issue for her but she is working hard and is showing much improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Paisley Robinson \u2014 \u201cIs an all-around good player,\u201d Mahan said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Molly Morgan \u2014 She is a promising player, who is one of the team\u2019s best defenders and rebounders. As her skills improve, her playing time will as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Ella Hubbard \u2014 \u201cShe\u2019s a 6\u20191 forward, who is just an eighth grader, but her size and potential may put her in the rotation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAllie and Sophie Gray are two very talented guards who just joined us this season,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cThey have a bright future but may find a way to help us out this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a very young team, with eight of our 15 varsity players in eighth grade, and all but three, being sophomores or younger,\u201d he added. \u201cDespite our youth, we\u2019re an extremely talented group \u2014 we\u2019ll just need to grow up fast and mature quickly on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahan mentioned having Claybrook is one of his team\u2019s biggest strengths but mentioned other strengths as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have a tremendous player in Mariella Claybrook, who will naturally draw a lot of attention, but our greatest strength lies in our ability to space the floor with multiple shooters and execute in the half court more effectively than we have in recent seasons,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re a young and undersized team, which means we have some ground to make up. Those areas will be challenges we work through all season, but with the right mindset and effort, they won\u2019t keep us from reaching our goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s team will have to truly play together,\u201d he added. \u201cWe can\u2019t rely on just one or two players to carry the load, and everyone has to contribute and buy into their role for us to be successful. That means committing to the little things like executing our offense with precision, communicating on defense, and taking pride in doing the details right every possession. It\u2019s not easy to stay that disciplined, but if we do, it will make us a far more complete and unpredictable team and one that\u2019s much tougher for opponents to prepare for and play against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahan said another challenging schedule will have his team prepared for the postseason battles his team will face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always believed that facing tough competition throughout the year is the best way to prepare for what truly matters which is postseason success,\u201d he said. \u201cRight out of the gate, we\u2019ll face Assumption, one of the most athletic teams in the state, and they\u2019ll test us in some of the areas where we know we need to grow. Games like that are exactly what help us improve and they will expose weaknesses, demand focus, and push us to elevate our level of play. By competing against elite opponents early, we\u2019ll be better prepared mentally and physically for the challenges that come later in the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n