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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Coming into the season, North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said he was going to test his Lady Jaguars early and often with one of the toughest schedules in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With already playing the likes of Corbin, South Laurel, Floyd Central, Whitley County, and DuPont Manual, his team has already been through numerous battles, so Friday\u2019s matchup at The Jungle against No. 8 ranked, and defending 15th Region champion Pikeville Lady Panthers wouldn\u2019t be no different \u2014 except it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel stunned Pikeville by handing the Lady Panthers (2-1) their first loss of the season, a 58-37 decision, to improve to 4-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe really stepped up our defense tonight,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cWe struggled some offensively in the first half but our defense kept us with the lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny time a team has two Division I guards, and you hold them to a combined seven points, then you have executed your defense well and your players understood the personnel on your scouting report,\u201d he added. \u201cAfter playing so poorly against Corbin on the defensive side of the ball our girls are beginning to understand the importance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Laurel received another steady dose of balanced scoring with Brooke Nichelson leading the way with 17 points while Chloe McKnight has 16 points. Emily Sizemore chipped in a 10-point scoring effort while Bella Sizemore had seven points, Jaelyn Black six points, and Abby Hibbard finished with two points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnyone who looks at our stats will see how well Emily, Brooke and Chloe played offensively but our entire team played well on both sides of the ball, and read the defense well for us to execute in the second and third quarters well,\u201d Mahan said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Jaguars held a slim, 23-18, edge at halftime before outscoring Pikeville, 35-19, in the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeating the No. 8 team in the state by 21 is great and playing this competition will only make us better,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cCompetition and rising to the occasion is what we build our program on. Most of my kids could average 25 a game on a team not as deep as ours, or who does not play the competition we do. It\u2019s our players sacrifices that set them apart and makes this team special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n