CORBIN — Tony Pietrowski’s Corbin Redhounds took their first step in defending their 50th District championship by earning their first district win of the season with a 66-52 win over the 13th Region’s top ranked team South Laurel.
The Redhounds were led by freshman Ryder Akins’ 21-point scoring effort. He also hit 14-of-15 shot attempts from the free-throw line.
Freshman Dawson Farmer added 11 points while turning in a stellar effort defensively. Eli Pietrowski added 12 points while Conner Blackburn hit two 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
“Two freshmen played great tonight,” Pietrowski said. “Ryder put in a special performance. He scored it and distributed it at a very high level. Dawson Farmer played some excellent defense, contributed in the glass and scored it when needed. Proud of them.
“Top to bottom, everyone contributed to the win tonight,” he added. “We were pretty balanced again offensively, which is encouraging. Thought Eli and Zack Reynolds did an excellent job on the glass tonight. Then mixed and matched to score it for us. We have had a great stretch of practices. I thought a lot of the things we have been working on transitioned to the floor this evening.”
Corbin (9-5 overall, 1-0 vs. 50th District opponents) led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter but began distancing itself by outscoring the Cardinals, 17-8, in the second quarter to lead 33-22 at halftime.
The Redhounds led 45-36 entering the fourth quarter before pulling away in the fourth quarter, outscoring South Laurel, 21-16.
“Give Corbin all the credit, they played more physical, patient and just all around better than us in all aspects of the game,” South Laurel coach Jeff Davis said. “They did everything a team needs to do to win a game like this.
“I did terrible job of getting our guys ready to play and better preparing them,” he added. “It’s on me and I’m embarrassed for that. My team expects better from me and I let them down. We will get back to work and I know this bunch will work.”
Jordan Mabe led the Cardinals with 15 points while Max Fullmer added 10 points.
