CORBIN — Eddie Mahan’s North Laurel Lady Jaguars are going back to Rupp Arena after capturing the 13th Region Girls’ Tournament championship for the second year in a row and third time since 2019.
The Lady Jaguars fought back from a five-point deficit in the first half to record a 61-49 victory over Isaac Wilson’s Corbin Lady Redhounds.
Led by tournament MVP Brooke Nichelson, who has earned the nickname Miss March thanks to her clutch play the past two years in the region and state tournaments, North Laurel won the rubber match between the two teams after they split a pair of games earlier this season.
Nichelson led the Lady Jaguars with 22 points while pulling down six rebounds. Freshman Mariella Claybrook came up huge when needed most. She recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Senior Chloe McKnight recorded a double-double as well, recording 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal.
Jaelyn Black came up huge shooting the ball, hitting all three of her 3-point attempts while finishing with nine points Gracie KcKnight added four points while Haley Combs scored two points.
“So appreciative for my team,” Mahan said. “They have been doubted all year, but they have sacrificed personal stats, personal awards all for winning.
“My seniors have grown into tremendous players and people over the five to six years they have played for me,” he added. “You can see that on and off the court. It’s one of the main reasons we are back-to-back region champs. Jaelyn Black will be graduating with three region championships. Chloe McKnight has become one of the best post players in the state. Mariella Claybrook keeps getting better and better and her double-double in a big game like this shows why she already has multiple college offers. Brooke Nichelson did a great job tonight. So many players like her care more about stats and awards but she has stayed focused on winning and that’s what she lead us to tonight.”
North Laurel shot an efficient 21-of-39 from the floor, including a 6-of-11 effort from 3-point range while winning the battle of the boards, 31-21.
Kallie Housley led Corbin with 23 points while Raegan Walker added nine points and Darcie Anderson scored eight points. Bailey Stewart chipped in six points.
The Lady Redhounds jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a basket from Housley and a 3-pointer by Darcie Anderson before North Laurel responded with six consecutive points to take a 6-5 lead.
Two consecutive 3-pointers by Brooke Nichelson pushed the Lady Jaguars’ lead to 12-8 with 4:20 remaining, but Corbin responded with four straight points to tie the game at 12 apiece.
Chloe McKnight’s putback gave North Laurel a 14-12 lead with 2:05 remaining before Housley’s 3-pointer gave the Lady Redhounds a 15-14 edge.
Jaelyn Black’s 3-pointer with 1:17 left allowed the Lady Jaguars to claim a 17-15 edge.
But but by the time the end of the quarter came, the game was tied at 19 apiece.
After the lead changed hands eight times in the first eight minutes, the two teams battled each other back and forth in the second quarter with the lead changing hands three more times.
Corbin built a 26-21 lead behind a 3-pointer by Housley and a basket by Houser before North Laurel began to chip away at its deficit.
The Lady Jaguars trailed 28-23 with less than three minutes remaining before using an 8-2 run to close out the first half while claiming a 31-30 lead.
North Laurel shot 13-of-23 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range.
Nichelson led the Lady Jaguars with 14 points while Mariella Claybrook had six points, five rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
Corbin hit 13-of-29 from the floor while going 4-for-9 from behind the arc.
Kallie Housley led the way for the Lady Redhounds with 13 points and three 3-pointers. Raegan Walker added eight points and five rebounds while Darcie Anderson had five points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Lady Jaguars built a 40-36 lead in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Black, and used a 21-11 run during the period to build a 52-41 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
North Laurel took care of business in the final eight minutes to wrap-up the win.
