CORBIN — Isaac Wilson’s Corbin Lady Redhounds are one win away from capturing their second 13th Region championship in three years after outlasting 51st District champion Knox Central with a 62-55 decision.
Despite seeing Lady Panther junior Halle Collins score 31 points while pulling down 18 rebounds, Corbin showed why it was considered one of the top teams in the region throughout the season by battling back from a three-point deficit at halftime.
Kylie Clem stepped up when needed most, scoring a team-best 18 points while finishing with five rebounds, two assists three steals. Darcie Anderson added 15 points while finishing with six steals, five assists, and two rebounds. Kallie Housley dished out nine points, recorded seven rebounds while totaling five assists and a steal.
“I’m happy for our team tonight,” Wilson said. “It was a great team win against a solid Knox Central Panther squad. We have played almost everyone across the state, and I have not seen a player with such a high motor like Halle Collins. She is a terrific talent, and a nightmare, when trying to figure out how to slow her down.
“We earned ourselves 32 more minutes of basketball and a chance to go back to Rupp Arena and represent the 13th Region. I really like my basketball team and we understand what it takes to get the job done.”
Corbin’s focus will now switch to North Laurel, who awaits the Lady Redhounds in Saturday’s 13th Region title game.
The two teams have split a pair of games this season. Corbin won the first game back on Dec. 9, 65-47, while the Lady Jaguars won on Feb. 2, 72-46.
“We understand that North laurel is a terrific talent in our region as well, and we expect it to be an absolute dogfight for the rubber match,” Wilson said. “We must take it one possession at a time and one quarter at a time, and we know that who plays the best tomorrow night will be cutting down the nets.”
Both teams came out red-hot from the floor with the lead changing hands numerous times in the first half.
Corbin led 16-10 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter before Knox Central answered with four consecutive points to close out the period, cutting its deficit to two points (16-14).
The Lady Panthers used a 5-2 run to open the second quarter, taking a short-lived 19-18 edge before a 3-pointer by Darcie Anderson triggered a 7-2 run for the Lady Redhounds that saw them reclaim a 25-21 lead midway through the period.
Two free throws and a 3-pointer by Kelsie Smith tied the game at 28 apiece with 1:21 remaining before Izzy Walker answered with a 3-pointer, giving Corbin a 31-28 edge with 1:14 left.
Knox Central closed the half out with six unanswered points as a free throw by Smith and five points by Halle Collins gave the Lady Panthers a 34-31 lead.
Collins had 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half while Smith added eight points.
Kallie Housley and Bailey Stewart led the Lady Redhounds with seven points apiece.
Knox Central held a 39-35 advantage midway through third quarter until Clem eight straight points to give the Lady Redhounds a 43-39 edge.
Corbin’s lead grew to 50-43 after a 3-pointer by Izzy Walker with 31 seconds remaining in the period but an old fashioned 3-point play by Collins cut the Lady Redhounds’ lead to 50-46 entering the fourth quarter.
