The Times-Tribune
CORBIN — By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
North Laurel’s season came to a screeching halt as the resilient Harlan County Lady Black Bears ended the Lady Jaguars’ hopes of reaching the Sweet Sixteen by capturing a 44-41 win during semifinal action of the 13th Region Tournament.
North Laurel turned out to be its own worst enemy by connecting on only 12-of-31 shot attempts and 14-of-25 from the free-throw line.
“We never were in sync,” North Laurel coach Roy Bowling said. “I was scared to death after we had already beaten them twice this season and I tried to preach to them that we couldn’t overlook Harlan County.
“They just outhustled and outplayed us,” he added. “We just got beat.”
The last time North Laurel played Harlan County sophomore guard Tamara Crawford scored 22 points, but this time around, Harlan County coach Anthony Nolan made sure she wouldn’t hurt his team.
Crawford finished the game with only two points on zero-for-five shooting from the floor.
“The big thing is that defensively we played much better this time,” he said. “She scored 22 points against us last time and she’s such a good shooter, so we wanted to control her penetration.”
The lady Black Bears’ defense did more than just that. Neither Crawford or Cheyenne Madden could get anything going offensively. Madden also finished with only two points on one-of-five shooting.
“Cheyenne came into this game averaging close to 22 points the past couple of games,” Bowling said. “They did a good job on Tamara and Cheyenne.”
Neither team could take control in the first half, which led to a 21-all tie at halftime.
It looked as if the Lady Jaguars were going to take control of the game, as Ashley Woolum scored six straight points to give North Laurel a 33-26 lead with two minutes remaining, but a couple of three second calls and a 6-0 run by Harlan County allowed the Lady Black Bears to cut their deficit to 32-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
“I disagree with those three second calls, especially since (No. 44) camped out there all night,” Bowling said.
Harlan County’s Heather Maggard took over in the fourth quarter and she scored six of her game-high 22 points during the final eight minutes. Maggard turned in a perfect night from the floor, connecting on nine-of-nine shot attempts.
“Heather is such a clutch player,” Nolan said.
Bowling agreed.
“She is a good player, but she should have hit all of those shots, she was wide open,” he said. “We did a very poor job on her.”
North Laurel struggled shooting the ball in the fourth quarter (two-of-nine from the floor), which allowed Harlan County to pick up the three-point win.
Harlan County finished the game connecting on 17-of-31 shot attempts, but turned the ball over 21 times.
Woolum led the Lady Jaguars with 17 points, while Kelsie Smith finished with 13 points.
There is some good news for North Laurel fans, unlike in year’s past, Bowling has already decided his coaching future.
“I’ll be back (next year),” he said. “I hope they use this as a lesson and that we’ve learned we’ve got to be mentally ready every game.”
13th Region Tournament
Girls Semifinals at The Arena
Harlan County 44, North Laurel 41
North Laurel 7 14 12 8 41
Harlan Co. 7 14 11 12 44
North Laurel (41) - Crawford 2, Smith 13, Seidel 5, Woolum 17, Madden 2, Proffitt 2.
Harlan County (44) - Gilliam 3, Carroll 10, Parker 3, Maggard 22, Davenport 6.
