LEXINGTON — A win is a win is a win.
That’s how I felt after watching the North Laurel Lady Jaguars secure their spot in Friday’s Elite 8 of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Sweet 16 on Wednesday.
While they didn’t play their best game of the season and committed 23 turnovers, North Laurel demonstrated the hallmark of a good team — they found a way to win.
The Lady Jaguars faced several challenges: a slow start, 23 turnovers, missing on their first six 3-point attempts, Brooke Nichelson picking up her second foul with 3:40 left in the second quarter, and a seven-point deficit in the third quarter.
These were significant obstacles, but they persevered.
And that’s what matters most: a win is a win is a win.
Of course, having the best player on the court always helps, and in North Laurel’s case, that player is Nichelson.
I spoke with Hall of Fame coach Roy Bowling this past Monday about Nichelson’s performance during the 13th Region Tournament, and he quickly noted that she’s one of the best he’s ever seen.
Coming from a legendary coach, who has witnessed the greatest talents throughout his career come through Laurel County, that speaks volumes about Nichelson’s abilities.
Nichelson scored North Laurel’s first 10 points, finished with a game-high 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and recorded four blocks, two steals, and an assist in 28 minutes of play.
She also executed what could end up being the tournament’s best play: an impressive up-and-under left-handed layup while sprinting to the basket — all while drawing a foul.
However, Nichelson wasn’t the only player who stepped up; it takes a total team effort to reach the Elite 8.
After a slow start, Mariella Claybrook dominated at times.
Initially hesitant with the ball, she found her rhythm as the nerves settled. Claybrook finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds, along with two blocks, a steal, and an assist. The future is bright for this young star.
Bella Sizemore also made significant contributions, performing many crucial tasks that may not show up on the stat sheet.
A true leader, Sizemore rallied her teammates when the going got tough. Although she went 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, she made up for it with tenacious defense and nine crucial points, hitting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. I was also impressed by her composure during the post-game press conference — she displays maturity beyond her years.
Let’s not overlook the contributions of Haley Combs and Emma Carl. Combs didn’t score but was a lockdown defender, leading the team with six steals (and that’s not a typo). She excelled defensively and handled the ball well during crucial moments in the fourth quarter.
Carl is a versatile player who excels in defense, delivers good passes, and is incredibly quick. Her strength often goes unnoticed, but she forced numerous changes of possession and proved very difficult to score on. She finished with five rebounds, four steals, three blocks, and three assists.
While Bella Lewis didn’t score, she provided coach Eddie Mahan with 11 quality minutes on the court.
So yeah, North Laurel is pretty darn good.
Sure, there are parts of the stat sheet that need cleaned up, but when you get this far, a win is a win is a win, and the Lady Jaguars will gladly take it.
