By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
The North Laurel Jaguars are off to a dismal 0-5 start and head coach James Conway accepted the blame after seeing his team drop a 70-62 overtime decision to Rockcastle County at home.
“I take complete responsibility for our loss,” he said. “A game that close, a good coach finds a way to win it. I thought our kids played hard, we just could never seize any momentum, even when we had a lead.”
Coming into the season, many expected the Jaguars to take some lumps with leading scorer Josh Seidel graduating, but they didn’t expect this.
The Jaguars were tied with the Rockets at 32 apiece and held a slim one-point edge (44-43) going into the fourth quarter before Rockcastle County forced overtime and eventually pulled away by outscoring North Laurel 13-5 during the game’s final four minutes.
“I know our kids are getting frustrated because this is definitely not the start that they or we as a coaching staff anticipated,” Conway said. “We are also very banged up at the moment. Raymond Shears was a game time decision — he rolled his ankle in practice on Monday and it was as big as a baseball, so I really commend him on battling through it against Rockcastle County.
“Adrian Wardrup is still feeling the effects of a rolled ankle in a practice last week,” he added. “Dustin Baker is out until early January with an ankle injury and our backup post player, Lee Spencer, is still ailing over a slightly pulled groin muscle.”
With that said, Conway believes his team can still turn the season around.
“Hopefully we can get healed up both physically and mentally so we can get the ship righted,” he said. “Hopefully we can have a good showing in our tournament.”
North Laurel will open the Hometown Bank Hoopin-It-Up-Classic on Saturday against 13th Region foe Williamsburg at 8:15 p.m.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Photo by Darrin Spencer
Discussion
Hoping to change direction
- Local Sports
-
-
Cards stand ground
It took a team effort, but South Laurel was able to make the big play late to defeat Harlan County, 5-4, and advance to the semifinals of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament.
-
Moving on
It wasn’t easy, but North Laurel managed to sneak by Corbin, 2-1, during the first round of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament Monday.
-
Lady Cards slip past Clay County
James Burns’ South Laurel Lady Cardinals continued a recurring theme in the first round of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament — scoring runs with two outs and nobody on.
-
Bell eliminates Knox Central
Bell County built a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning against Knox Central in first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament Monday, but still needed a leaping catch by centerfielder Alisha Russell to seal the deal on the Lady Bobcats’ win over the Lady Panthers.
-
Errors lead to Barbourville’s 15-0 loss to Harlan County
A crucial error in the second inning led to five unearned runs for Harlan County, as the Lady Black Bears cruised to an easy 15-0 win over Barbourville in four innings Monday during first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament.
-
Knox Central puts up fight before losing to Middlesboro, 6-2
Middlesboro’s Nick Capps took care of business and managed to hold off Knox Central, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament Monday.
-
North runs win streak to 19 games
The North Laurel Lady Jaguars were clicking on all cylinders Monday during first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament as they defeated Corbin in five innings, 12-0.
-
Tigers drop 10-2 decision
Clay County was forced to put the ball on the ground, but once they did they were able to get going as they defeated Barbourville, 10-2, during the first round of the 13th Region Tournament Monday.
-
Who really are the favorites this year?
Corbin and North Laurel High Schools’ first round match-ups in both the 13th Region Baseball Tournament and 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament will highlight Monday’s first round action.
-
Fantastic Finish
Brandon Hillard’s Knox Central Panthers almost pulled off a shocker before falling to rival Barbourville, 7-6, in the finals of the 51st District title game Thursday.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
