SCALPED IN THE JUNGLE

 The Corbin Redhounds upped their record to 14-2 and won their ninth game in a row Tuesday night defeating the North Laurel Jaguars, 69-51 at NLHS.

The Redhounds used a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter to pull away from the Jaguars. Corbin led at the end of the third quarter 45-41. Matthew Taylor opened the final period hitting one-of-two from the line followed by an Aaron Manns basket to push the lead out to seven. Madison Johnson, who scored 32 points in the win, had back-to-back baskets as Corbin took a double-digit lead.

Senior guard Isaac Wilson followed with a basket in the lane as Corbin took a 54-41 lead with 5:35 and North Laurel yet to score.

The Jaguars (7-12) cut the lead back to nine on a Cody Likins basket with just over three minutes left in the game. However, Corbin put the game away with an 11-0 run. Johnson scored five points in the run while Manns added four points and Wilson tossed in a basket.

“I didn’t think we stretched it out early like I wanted, but we held our composure and gapped them in spurts,” said Corbin Coach Tony Pietrowski. “In the end we got a big victory on the road and as a coach I’m very happy.”

Corbin (13-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead when Aaron Manns hit three-of-four from the line and Isaac Wilson scored on a short jumper. It took four and a half minutes before Brody Creech finally got North Laurel on the scoreboard. But, Corbin was unable to take advantage and increase their lead.

A Madison Johnson lay-up gave the Redhounds a 13-8 lead before Chris Cheek cut the lead to two (13-11) with a 3-pointer. Two free throws by Johnson gave Corbin a 15-11 lead at the end of one.

Corbin stretched its lead out to eight in the second quarter on three occasions, the first coming on a free throw by Travis Smith. The Jaguars came back to cut the lead to two (26-24) on a pair of free throws by Adrian Wardrup.

The Redhounds pushed the lead back out to eight on a Wilson jumper, a 3-pointer by Johnson and a free throw by the senior guard. But, North Laurel was able to cut the lead to four at the half, 32-26.

Johnson and Wilson combined to score 28 of the 32 points in the first half for the Redhounds.

Corbin again saw their lead balloon out to seven (44-37) before North Laurel came back and sliced the lead to four, 45-41, setting the stage for the final period.

Corbin will be at home Friday night when they take on the Knox Central Panthers. They will face district rival South Laurel at Gilliam Gym Tuesday night.

Corbin 69, North Laurel 51

Corbin              15  17  13  24- 69

North Laurel            11  17  13  10- 51

   Corbin (69) –  Johnson 32, Wilson 21, Manns 9, Taylor 1, Stewart 5, Smith 1.

   North Laurel (51) – Wardrup 8, Likins 12, Carsons 2, Spencer 6, Jones 3, Baker 2, Cheek 15, Creech 3.