hree-time defending 13th Region champion North Laurel used its size and experience to push past a youth-laden Harlan County squad Tuesday night inside Black Bear Gymnasium with a 73-43 victory.
Mariella Claybrook, a 6-foot-2 junior and regarded as the top player in the 13th Region, dominated the painted area and scored a game-high 23 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for North Laurel.
Sophomore Bella Lewis added 15 points for the Lady Jaguars, eighth-grader Laylee Phillips scored 14 points, while senior Haley Combs and sophomore Bella Mahan scored nine points,apiece.
Harlan County (1-4) knocked down 11 3-point shots during the game, including three from freshman Jaycee Simpson, who scored a team-high 13 points. Freshman Kylee Runions also converted three shots from beyond the 3-point arc en route to nine points, while freshman Reagan Clem (eight points) and sophomore Jaylee Cochran (six points) each tossed in a pair of triples.
Following a trey by Simpson that tied the score at 3-3 during the early stages of the game, North Laurel (5-1) scored 12 unanswered points to establish control.
All five North Laurel starters scored at least two points during the first quarter, and the Lady Jaguars led, 19-8 after eight minutes.
Following a basket by Phillips to open the second quarter, the Lady Bears got consecutive 3-point baskets by Cochrane and senior Whitney Noe, before an inside basket by Simpson cut the North Laurel lead to 21-16 before the quarter was four minutes old.
Phillips followed the Harlan County run with six of her team’s final 10 points of the quarter and the Lady Jaguars led, 31-19 at halftime.
The Lady Bears knocked down five 3-point shots during the third quarter — including consecutive triples by Clem – to remain within striking distance at 47-34, but inside baskets by Claybrook and Phillips pushed the Lady Jaguars’ lead to 51-36 heading into the final quarter.
Trailing 59-43 with just under six minutes remaining in the game, North Laurel reeled off the game’s final 14 points. Mahan knocked down two 3-point shots during the run, while Claybrook scored her final two baskets of the game from close range.
Harlan County turned the ball over 16 times, resulting in 22 points for North Laurel. The Lady Jaguars turned the ball over just five times.
Next up for Harlan County is a game Friday against Barbourville at Leslie County Nixon Center. North Laurel travels Friday to Corbin for a game against the host school in the Redound Christmas Bash.
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Harlan County fell 52-25 in junior varsity action as Allie Gray scored 18 points and Paisley Kilburn added 12 for the Lady Jaguars.
Kenadee Sturgill led the 2-3 Lady Bears with seven points. Taylynn Napier, Shasta Brackett and Natalie Moore added four points each. Vanessa Griffith and Kelsie Middleton each scored two. Khloe Carr and Raegan Landa added one each.
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North Laurel (73) – Bella Lewis 15, Haley Combs 9, Bella Mahan 9, Mariella Claybrook 23, Laylee Phillips 14, Paisley Kilburn 1, Allie Gray 2, Ella Hubbard 0.
Harlan County (43) – Jaycee Simpson 13, Reagan Clem 8, Jaylee Cochran 6, Whitney Noe 3, Lacey Robinson 0, Kylee Runions 9, Kenadee Sturgill 4.