2023 13th Region Tournament: Corbin to meet North Laurel in boys’ championship

After their big win over Harlan County in the opening round of the 2023 13^th Region tournament Thursday, the Corbin Redhounds were back in action Saturday, taking on the Barbourville Tigers in semifinal round action.

The Tigers’ leading scorer, senior Matthew Warren, was not able to contribute after sustaining an ankle injury late in Barbourville’s first round game against Clay County Thursday evening. His absence was certainly felt, too, as the blue team struggled all night to get into any kind of a groove offensively.

Meanwhile, the boys in red were firing on all cylinders, with senior Hayden Llewellyn and junior Zander Curry combining for 19 of the Redhounds’ 29 first half points. At the half, Corbin led Barbourville, 29-15.

The Tigers’ struggles continued in the second half, with the Redhounds outscoring them 20-10 in the third quarter to take a 49-25 lead into the final period of play.

Corbin continued to cruise into the fourth, leading to both teams eventually subbing down when the game was out of reach for the losing side. Both the Hounds and the Tigers scored nine points in the quarter, resulting in a 58-34 final decision.

The win improves the Redhounds to 23-7 on the year, and puts them back in the 13^th Region finals for the first time since 2018. They will meet the North Laurel Jaguars (24-10) in the tournament finals, to be contested Monday evening, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the Corbin Arena.

Corbin and North met in their regular season finale on Feb. 17, with the Jags winning at CHS, 68-47.

Corbin 58, Barbourville 34

Individual scoring for Corbin: Hayden Llewellyn 22, Zander Curry 8, Trey Worley 4, Carter Stewart 5, Marc Warren 3, Kade Elam 5, Brody Wells 7, Eli Pietrowski 4

Individual scoring for Barbourville: Ethan Smith 2, Ty Clark 8, Travis Scott 6, Jaxon Collins 1, Jacob Lundy 4, KT Turner 13

Photos courtesy of ASHLEY NORVELL