13th Region Observations

 The 13^th Region semifinals are set. Corbin will play the Clay County Tigers at 3:00 p.m. Saturday while North Laurel takes on South Laurel at 4:30. I expect a close contest between the Redhounds and the Tigers, but I can’t see North Laurel giving South Laurel much of a game.

Looking back, the Black Bears didn’t look as strong as I thought they might against North Laurel Thursday night. I did like the play of T. J. Green and Kyle Hogue. I thought the two seniors left it on the floor. They gave 110 percent; there was no doubt about that.

 Here are my top five performances of the first-round:

Isaac Wilson, Corbin. The Redhounds mighty might had the game of a lifetime. He scored 43 points on 13 of 21 from the field, hit 12 of 18 from the free throw line, pulled down six rebounds and dished out three assists in 51 minutes of action. Wilson proved to me that he could play at the next level. And, I don’t mean NAIA. I’d like to see Eastern, Morehead or Murray State give him a shot.

You can sit there and say I am crazy, but I know the guy can play. He has the heart, work ethic and desire. But, then again I can’t believe the Cumberlands, Union College, LMU or a team from the NAIA wouldn’t recruit him hard.

 Brian Robbins, Bell County. I like the play of this senior forward. Robbins was a force inside for the Bobcats. He was 10-of-15 from the field and hauled down five rebounds. He played a great game and Corbin fans had to be thankful he fouled out.

 Adrian Wardrup, North Laurel: Wardrup plays much bigger than he is. He has the strength of an ox. He was 8-of-16 from the field, 5-of-5 from the line and had six rebounds to go with his 21 points. Wardrup will have to have another great game for the Jaguars to pull the upset and beat South Laurel.

 Matt Gilbert, South Laurel: Gilbert had a complete game for the Cardinals against Knox Central. He was six-of-nine from the field, hit three long shots and was three-for-three from the line. Gilbert pulled down five rebounds, but he took charge of the game. It was one of the best games I’ve seen Gilbert play this year.

 Matthew Mitchell, Clay County: Mitchell also had one of his best games of the season. The junior forward scored 14 points and had six rebounds and three steals in the win over Barbourville.

 Honorable Mention: Kendale Reed, Clay County, Josh Hilderbrand, Barbourville, Travis Smith, Corbin, Ben Madon, Bell County and Matt St. John, South Laurel, Cody Miller, Knox Central.

 Miller and Madon had the only two double-doubles of the tournament so far, but they also led in turnovers. Miller had 16 points and a tournament high 18 rebounds, but had seven turnovers in the loss to South Laurel. Madon had 22 points and 11 rebounds, but he had a tournament high 11 turnovers.

 In the semifinals, Clay County will give the Redhounds fits before Corbin pulls out a 60-57 win while South Laurel rolls past North Laurel, 75-64.