WILLIAMSBURG — Corbin senior Kallie Housley stepped up when her teammates needed her the most, delivering 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, three made 3-pointers and a steal to help guide the Lady Redhounds to their second consecutive 50th District championship on Friday.
Corbin also received a boost from its bench play, outscoring South Laurel 19-3, during its 74-68 win over the Lady Cardinals.
The game was close throughout but the Lady Redhounds did just enough to capture their seventh win in a row while improving to 20-8.
Darcie Anderson played a big role in the win, too, finishing with 13 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. Bailey Stewart and Izzy Walker also scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points apiece. Stewart also had seven rebounds, two steals and one block.
“I’m sitting here trying to find the right words to tell you and the only thing I can come up with is wow, what a game,” Corbin coach Isaac Wilson said. “I thought both teams played with such grit and determination, and it was clear that both teams truly wanted to win that district title.
“I’m extremely proud of how our kids were able to handle that environment and the pressure of the situation tonight,” he added. “Everyone that got in tonight contributed and had huge impacts on the game, and that’s probably the most enjoyable thing about this basketball team. We have bought in to the team concept and to buy in to doing our job and whatever is best for the team.”
South Laurel freshmen Skeeter Mabe and Shelbie Mills, who recorded their 1,000th career points during the contest, did their best to keep the Lady Cardinals (19-13) in the game. Mabe contributed a game-high 26 points while pulling down six rebounds. She also had two blocks and one assist. Mills added 21 points while hitting 5-of-8 3-point attempts. Mills also had two assists, and two steals.
“South Laurel has a solid ball club that has a lot of youth, they caused us a lot of problems, and I am proud of how my kids continued to fight even through the struggles,” Wilson said. “I thought we never got too high or never got too low in the moment and we stayed poised which is what any team in the postseason needs to be able to do.
“I feel that the 50th district will be well-represented in next weeks 13th Region Tournament. We will enjoy this one through tomorrow, but we must get refocused after the regional draw and lock in for the 13th Region Tournament next week.”
Aubrey Bundy had nine points and two steals while Maci Messer finished with five points and Jamie Buenaventura scored four points and led the team with nine rebounds.
“Well, give Corbin credit they answered a lot of our runs,” South Laurel coach Chris Souder said. “Veteran teams make veteran plays. Housley got hot at the right time for them.
I’m not discouraged at all. Our kids played their tails off and battled the entire game.
“Skeeter and Shelbie were lethal the entire night,” he added. “It is also rare that 2 girls reach a milestone on the same night. Both scored their 1000th point tonight. We told our kids to rest up and be ready for next week. Doesn’t matter who we draw, have to win three games so we will be ready regardless. Should be a really fun tournament.”
