![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.13thregionmedianetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/untitled-10-14-300x255.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 North Laurel leaned on its defensive play to earn a 52\u201339 win over Edgewater, Fla., on Monday during the Florida Prospects Classic, improving to 8\u20131 on the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Jaguars faced a tough test against an Edgewater team that entered the contest 10\u20132 and ranked No. 7 in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite limited practice time leading into the tournament, North Laurel controlled the game with defensive pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laylee Phillips led North Laurel with 13 points, while Bella Lewis added 11. Haley Combs finished with eight points, Paisley Kilburn scored seven, and Mariella Claybrook chipped in six. Bella Mahan added four points, and Paisley Robinson rounded out the scoring with three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel\u2019s defense proved to be the difference, especially when shots weren\u2019t falling consistently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claybrook anchored the paint with 11 rebounds and seven blocks while Combs came up with six steals and four rebounds. Lewis added four steals and four rebounds, and Mahan finished with three steals and five rebounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said the team\u2019s recent layoff was noticeable at times, but he was pleased with how his players responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t practiced in eight days, and that\u2019s on me,\u201d he said. \u201cI felt it was important to give our kids time with their families leading into Christmas, and once we got down here our emphasis shifted toward team bonding and shared experiences off the floor. You could see the effects of that at times today, especially in our timing and rhythm, but overall I was pleased with how we performed and how we competed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe area where the layoff showed the most was our shooting,\u201d Mahan added. \u201cWe missed some looks that we normally knock down, and that\u2019s to be expected after time away from the gym. What I was proud of is that when the shots weren\u2019t falling, we didn\u2019t panic or lose our identity. Defense is what we\u2019re built on, and that\u2019s exactly what we leaned on today to get us through stretches where the offense wasn\u2019t as sharp as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahan also credited Combs for setting the tone early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n