LONDON — With both Corbin and South Laurel missing key players in one of the biggest rivalries in the 13th Region, the two teams hooked up in a battle with the Redhounds coming away with a 62-51 win on Tuesday.
Tony Pietrowski’s squad was without the services of starting guard Carter Stewart while the Cardinals were without the services of leading scorer Jordan Mabe.
The win was Corbin second in the last four games against South Laurel. The Redhounds are now 8-4 while the Cardinals dropped to 10-4.
“Thought we played with a tremendous amount of effort tonight,” Pietrowskis said. “We continue to have longer stretches of good play. When we are in that mode, I feel like we are a top 20 team in the state. That said, we still have stretches that need improvement. I firmly believe this team will work to correct those areas.
“I thought Eli (Pietrowski) had some really solid stretches in the paint that allowed us to gap them a bit,” he added. “Zander Curry is a rock for our team. We ask him to numerous things to help us when. He continues to that for us. So proud and happy for Conner Middleton. We really needed him yo step up and even play a big role for us tonight with Carter sidelined. He did just that. Happy to see him shine. Thought Ryder (Akins) played well. Tough environment with a team pressuring and he looked very mature out on the floor tonight. We have to keep grinding. This team can be great but there is work to be done.”
South Laurel built a 12-8 lead in the first quarter before Corbin rallied to take a 29-19 lead into the locker room at half time.
The Redhounds extended their lead to 46-33 entering the fourth quarter before wrapping up the win in the final eight minutes.
Conner Middleton led Corbin with 21 points while Eli Pietrowski added 15 points. Ryder Akins scored nine points while Zander Curry, and Trey Worley each scored seven points apiece.
Landon Howard led the Cardinals with 12 points while Colton Rawlings followed with 11 points. Jordan Steelers added 10 points while Garrison Brown chipped in eight points.
