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03-02-2012, 01:07 PM
CORBIN â A magical post season run came to an end for the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets Wednesday at the 13th Region Tournament. North Laurel took advantage of the Jacketsâ struggles at the free throw line to pull away late for a 59-43 win.
The final score is deceiving as Middlesboro led 33-31 with 1:19 to play in the third quarter. But the Jackets hit just 10 of 28 free throws in the game and the Jaguars were able to pull away late to win it by 16. The loss ends the season for the 52nd District champions.
âMissed opportunities at the free throw line really hurt us. I think we shot maybe 35 percent and that was the difference in the ballgame,â said Jacket coach Russell Thompson. âWhen we had to come out and press, they took advantage and found some lanes and they were able to get to rim and push the lead out.
âWhen we made the run in the district tournament we were making over 60 percent of our free throws. If we shoot 60 percent tonight, it would have been a game right down to the end for sure.â
A jumper by Jarrell Stephney cut the North Laurel lead to 43-38 with 6:28 to play, but the Jackets missed three straight free throws over the next 1:20. Two of those were the front end of the bonus. Meanwhile Jaguar center Jake Allen hit three of four from the line.
Middlesboroâs Derek Smith hit one free throw at the 3:20 mark, he missed the second but Cameron Rancher tipped it in to cut the lead back to 46-41.
Northâs Marcus Carson then dribbled his way through the Jacket press and converted a three-point play to push the lead to 49-41.
Kendrick Henson hit four straight free throws and North tacked on three late layups in transition after missed 3-pointers by Middlesboro to make the final score appear lopsided.
âI didnât want to tell my team before the game, but this was one of the best teams we have played all year. They are big, strong and they are hot right now. I knew they were going to be a tough out for us,â said North Laurel coach Brad Sizemore. âIâm just glad we got over the hump. We have played so hard all year and been right there so many times. Hopefully this will give us a little confidence.â
Ethan Eversole led the Jags with 14 points, Carson finished with 12, Austin Rush and Henson added ten each. Rancher led the Jackets with 12 points and Michael Wilson added 11.
Middlesboro struggled in the early going with turnovers and North Laurel jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Rancher scored four points and Wilson three as the Jackets took a 9-7 lead, but the Jackets wouldnât score again until the second quarter was more than half over.
The Jags led 13-9 after one and two baskets from Ryan Shears pushed the lead to 17-9 early in the second.
Middlesboroâs Blake Davis came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer for the Jackets first points of the period at the 3:30 mark and ignite a 9-1 run to end the half. Wilson drove in for a layup and a tip in by Austin Poindexter tied the game at 18 by the half.
Middlesboro turned the ball over 11 times in the first half and were fortunate to be in the game as they made just three of 12 free throws in the half.
âWe had had all those turnovers, were three of 12 on free throws and it was still a tie ballgame,â said Thompson. âI liked our chances going inâ
Two baskets from Rancher and one from Derek Smith put Middlesboro up 24-18 two minute into the third quarter.
North didnât score in the second half until two Carson free throws with 4:16 to go in the third. Carson then drove in for one layup and scored again off a steal to tie the game by the 3:50 mark and it was back and forth for most of the rest of the quarter.
âI felt like my kids came in with an attitude to do the best they could,â Thompson said. âThey played hard and tried to represent our school and community well and I feel for the the most part they did that.â
A Zack Riddle basket and a free throw from Poindexter put the Jackets up 27-24, but Eversole hit two free throws and sank two 3-pointers with the second giving North Laurel 37-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Middlesboroâs struggles at the free throw line continued and the Jags were able to run away late.
North Laurel (19-14) advances to play Knox Central in Saturdayâs early semifinal at 2 p.m.
Middlesboro ends the season with a record of 18-14.
âIt is good experience. Coming in here your dream is to win three ballgames and get to Rupp Arena. Thatâs what we talked about before the game and thatâs what we wanted to accomplish,â Thompson said. âFor our juniors and younger players to experience this, maybe the next time we get here weâll be better prepared to handle this moment. Hopefully weâll bring our free throws with us and shoot a better percentage because I know theyâre going to play hard. Iâve got a great bunch of kids and I can count on them to do that every night.
âNobody expected us to be 52nd District champions and we accomplished that. We would have liked to carried it further, but it wasnât meant to be tonight.â
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets end season with loss to North Laurel
The final score is deceiving as Middlesboro led 33-31 with 1:19 to play in the third quarter. But the Jackets hit just 10 of 28 free throws in the game and the Jaguars were able to pull away late to win it by 16. The loss ends the season for the 52nd District champions.
âMissed opportunities at the free throw line really hurt us. I think we shot maybe 35 percent and that was the difference in the ballgame,â said Jacket coach Russell Thompson. âWhen we had to come out and press, they took advantage and found some lanes and they were able to get to rim and push the lead out.
âWhen we made the run in the district tournament we were making over 60 percent of our free throws. If we shoot 60 percent tonight, it would have been a game right down to the end for sure.â
A jumper by Jarrell Stephney cut the North Laurel lead to 43-38 with 6:28 to play, but the Jackets missed three straight free throws over the next 1:20. Two of those were the front end of the bonus. Meanwhile Jaguar center Jake Allen hit three of four from the line.
Middlesboroâs Derek Smith hit one free throw at the 3:20 mark, he missed the second but Cameron Rancher tipped it in to cut the lead back to 46-41.
Northâs Marcus Carson then dribbled his way through the Jacket press and converted a three-point play to push the lead to 49-41.
Kendrick Henson hit four straight free throws and North tacked on three late layups in transition after missed 3-pointers by Middlesboro to make the final score appear lopsided.
âI didnât want to tell my team before the game, but this was one of the best teams we have played all year. They are big, strong and they are hot right now. I knew they were going to be a tough out for us,â said North Laurel coach Brad Sizemore. âIâm just glad we got over the hump. We have played so hard all year and been right there so many times. Hopefully this will give us a little confidence.â
Ethan Eversole led the Jags with 14 points, Carson finished with 12, Austin Rush and Henson added ten each. Rancher led the Jackets with 12 points and Michael Wilson added 11.
Middlesboro struggled in the early going with turnovers and North Laurel jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Rancher scored four points and Wilson three as the Jackets took a 9-7 lead, but the Jackets wouldnât score again until the second quarter was more than half over.
The Jags led 13-9 after one and two baskets from Ryan Shears pushed the lead to 17-9 early in the second.
Middlesboroâs Blake Davis came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer for the Jackets first points of the period at the 3:30 mark and ignite a 9-1 run to end the half. Wilson drove in for a layup and a tip in by Austin Poindexter tied the game at 18 by the half.
Middlesboro turned the ball over 11 times in the first half and were fortunate to be in the game as they made just three of 12 free throws in the half.
âWe had had all those turnovers, were three of 12 on free throws and it was still a tie ballgame,â said Thompson. âI liked our chances going inâ
Two baskets from Rancher and one from Derek Smith put Middlesboro up 24-18 two minute into the third quarter.
North didnât score in the second half until two Carson free throws with 4:16 to go in the third. Carson then drove in for one layup and scored again off a steal to tie the game by the 3:50 mark and it was back and forth for most of the rest of the quarter.
âI felt like my kids came in with an attitude to do the best they could,â Thompson said. âThey played hard and tried to represent our school and community well and I feel for the the most part they did that.â
A Zack Riddle basket and a free throw from Poindexter put the Jackets up 27-24, but Eversole hit two free throws and sank two 3-pointers with the second giving North Laurel 37-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Middlesboroâs struggles at the free throw line continued and the Jags were able to run away late.
North Laurel (19-14) advances to play Knox Central in Saturdayâs early semifinal at 2 p.m.
Middlesboro ends the season with a record of 18-14.
âIt is good experience. Coming in here your dream is to win three ballgames and get to Rupp Arena. Thatâs what we talked about before the game and thatâs what we wanted to accomplish,â Thompson said. âFor our juniors and younger players to experience this, maybe the next time we get here weâll be better prepared to handle this moment. Hopefully weâll bring our free throws with us and shoot a better percentage because I know theyâre going to play hard. Iâve got a great bunch of kids and I can count on them to do that every night.
âNobody expected us to be 52nd District champions and we accomplished that. We would have liked to carried it further, but it wasnât meant to be tonight.â
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets end season with loss to North Laurel
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03-02-2012, 01:08 PM
NORTH LAUREL (59) – Marcus Carson 12, Ethan Eversole 14, Ryan Shears 8, Austin Rush 10, Jake Allen 5, Kendrick Henson 10, Taylor Bowling 0.
MIDDLESBORO (43) – Donnie Foister 2, Michael Wilson 11, Derek Smith 3, Cameron Rancher 12, Boone Bowling 0, Zach Riddle 4, Austin Poindexter 5, Jarrell Stephney 2, Jake Taylor 1, Blake Davis 3.
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets end season with loss to North Laurel
MIDDLESBORO (43) – Donnie Foister 2, Michael Wilson 11, Derek Smith 3, Cameron Rancher 12, Boone Bowling 0, Zach Riddle 4, Austin Poindexter 5, Jarrell Stephney 2, Jake Taylor 1, Blake Davis 3.
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets end season with loss to North Laurel
03-02-2012, 01:08 PM
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03-02-2012, 01:08 PM
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