An 11-0 run to start the game wasn’t quite enough for the Corbin Lady Hounds to put away Bell County on Wednesday in the 2A Section 7 Tournament at Harlan County High School.
A 29-9 run in the third quarter, however, was more than enough as Corbin coasted to an 83-57 victory, ending Bell County’s string of four straight titles going back to the start of the tournament in 2020.
“It’s a messed up schedule this week due to weather and you get knocked off your normal routine, so it’s easy to buy into excuses,” Corbin coach Isaac Wilson. “I told them before the game if they came out ready to play we could jump out on them, and I thought we did. We kind of let them back in the game after our run, but all in all I liked our effort, especially the second half. I’m excited to advance. Bell County has kind of owned this thing for a few years, so we’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”
“We didn’t have enough steam to play with them tonight,” Bell County coach David Teague said. “I told them right before the game if we came out and got a lead or they came out and got a lead that the game wasn’t going to be over. They have to keep battling and keep playing. We got down, and I was very proud of the way the kids battled back. That was about as good a first quarter as you’d want to watch. The rest of the game was a complete opposite. They are a good shooting team, and we didn’t shoot well enough to hang around. That’s part of it.”
Senior guard Kylie Clem scored 22 points to lead the 10-2 Lady Hounds. Lydia King and Raegan Walker added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Junior center Kairi Lamb carried the Bell offense with 28 points. Bell, winners of five straight coming into the game, fell to 10-4.

Corbin will play McCreary Central on Thursday at 8 in the tournament semifinals at Bell County. The Lady Cats return to action Jan. 17 at Lynn Camp.
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Corbin (83) — Kylie Clem 22, Raegan Walker 11, Lydia King 12, Addy Wilson 9, Kalley Stewart 6, Izzy Walker 4, Maekayla Williams 4, Sayde Mobley 4, Raylan Lester 4, Ashtyn Creech 4, Brylend Frederick 3.
Bell County (57) — Nevaeh Allen 3, Lauren McGeorge 10, Lyla Scearse 5, Gracie Barton 0, Kairi Lamb 28, Aubree Miracle 2, Bristol Jordan 2, Katie Hammontree 5.

Bell County 16 14 9 18 — 57
Corbin 20 19 29 25 — 83