CORBIN —
By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
LEXINGTON — It wasn’t easy, but the Corbin Redhound sixth grade basketball team overcame a seven-point first half deficit to capture the 2013 Boys KBA State championship by defeating Lebanon Middle School, 52-47.
The Redhounds were powered by Tournament MVP Cameron Maguet’s 20-point effort. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Maguet broke through and hit two three-pointers in the second half while scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter. He scored 137 points during the three-day, seven-game event, as Corbin kept its perfect record alive at 31-0 by going 7-0.
“You can’t describe the feeling right now,” coach Jimmy Hendrickson said. “We’ve worked since October to get to this point and I’m just at a loss of words right now.
“These kids deserve it because they’ve worked really hard,” he added. “We knew we could be special, but we also knew it would take working real hard and playing with that Redhound Pride to get this far and we’ve got that Redhound Pride.”
Corbin advanced to the championship game by picking up a win on Friday before rolling to three wins on Saturday and two more on Sunday, including a victory over North Laurel in the Final Four.
The Redhounds fell behind 14-10 at the end of the first quarter to Lebanon after struggling from the floor on four-of-14 shooting. Lucas Henegar scored five points during the quarter to keep Corbin close.
Hendrickson’s squad fell behind 17-10 with 5:13 remaining in the first half when Henegar scored five straight points, including hitting a three-pointer, that triggered a 17-6 run for Corbin.
Noah Taylor added six points during the quarter, while Maguet began to take over with drives to the basket and scored six of the Redhounds’ last eight points of the second quarter, giving his team a 27-23 edge at halftime.
After seeing his team fall behind seven points, Hendrickson admitted he was concerned.
“I was — this was our seventh game and third today and they were really pushing us,” he said. “I was worried about our legs, but we just dug deep and played that much harder.”
The Patriots got back in the game during the third quarter by outscoring Corbin 9-5 while forcing the game to go into the fourth quarter at 32 apiece.
But that’s when the Redhounds took over.
Lebanon didn’t have an answer for Maguet or Taylor down the stretch, as the duo combined to score 16 of their team’s 20 points during the final period of play.
Maguet opened the quarter with a three-pointer to give his team a 35-32 edge, but the Patriots tied it up at 35 apiece with a three-pointer of their own.
A basket by Brendan Henegar ignited a 10-1 run that allowed the Redhounds to put the game away. Taylor added a three-pointer during the run while Maguet scored on an old-fashioned three-point play to push Corbin’s lead to 45-36. He added a layup seconds later to give his team its biggest lead of the game at 47-36.
Lebanon tried to rally, but couldn’t get any closer than five points down the stretch.
Maguet’s 19 points led Corbin while Taylor followed with 12 points and L. Henegar added 11.
“We’re not a one-man team,” Hendrickson said. “That’s what is so special about this team. Everyone contributes in someway and it’s special — it really is. I know you hear that all of the time, but this is special.
“When they made their little run then we would come back and hit a shot,” he added. “You could see it in their eyes. They wanted this bad.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
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The Redhounds were powered by Tournament MVP Cameron Maguet's 20-point effort. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Maguet broke threw and hit two three-pointers in the second half while scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter. Photo by Les Dixon
Discussion
Top Dawgs
Corbin captures sixth grade middle school championship
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SPORTS HEADLINES - MAY 17, 2013
Jumpers stun North
On the move
Local players advance in boys & girls state tennis action
Lady Colonels drop 12-9 decision at home to Clay County
Colonels win big
Carson comes big against Bears
Lady Redhounds fall on the road, 10-0
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