Routed

Defending state champion, South Laurel, apparently wanted to make a statement in its district opener and used the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets as a stepping stone. The Cardinals routed the Jackets to the tune of 68 points in a 114-46 win over Williamsburg.
Coach Donnie Haynes said his team ran into a strong 13th region team. “Take your hats off to South Laurel, they are a seasoned team that is very mature in game preparation. You would thank they would overlook us and not be prepared to play us, but I see no slippage in their preparation,” said Williamsburg coach Donnie Haynes. “They are very mature and that’s a compliment to their kids and the success they have had and to their coaches.”
“They are going to be tough out,” he added.
“I am proud of our kids for competing emotional and other ways,” said Haynes. “Our kids were excited about playing in the district. I think if we had competed that well, we might have won a few more games.”
“The kids actually thought we could compete and play,” said Haynes. “That’s the type of kids we have. They were eager and when you have that eagerness and anticipation to play then it’s going to result in some positive energy.”
“We couldn’t have anymore assertiveness than we did and that’s what I wanted,” said Haynes. “That’s what we were looking to take away from the game.”
“I still think there is a need for classification in high school basketball,” Haynes said. “I just don’t see our kids having as fair of a chance as South Laurel’s kids do about dreaming of playing in Rupp Arena. It is what is right now, we’re the only state left and it’s kind of an unfortunate thing.”
South Laurel tagged Williamsburg with one of the highest scoring haves ever in district tournament play by scoring 75 points.
Junior Ty Proffitt led the Cardinals to a 75-29 lead at the half, ending any hopes the Yellow Jackets had of keeping the score relatively close.
The closest the game was, came when the Jackets fought back from a 7-0 deficit to close within 7-4 on baskets by freshman Jeff Teague and junior Michael McRay. But Mr. Basketball candidate Walt Allen and Proffitt scored the next eight points for a 15-4 cushion before McRay answered again.
The Cardinals pushed the lead into double figures when Proffitt and Trey Smith hit five of six free throws over the next two minutes. McRay hit two of three free throws with 3:13 in the quarter but the Jackets trailed 20-8 after connecting on two.
South Laurel outscored Williamsburg 14-6 over the next three points to take a 34-14 lead at the first stop. Freshman Aaron Cunningham tossed in two three pointers for the Jackets during that run.
South Laurel showed they could put on an offensive show in the second period when they outscored Williamsburg 41-15 and took the near 50-point margin at the half.
Williamsburg closed out the season with just two wins in 18 games. Both wins came against the Jellico Blue Devils.
Cunningham led the Jackets with 12 points while McRay finished with nine points. Proffitt had a season high 31 points to pace the Cardinals.

South Laurel 114, Williamsburg 46
Williamsburg 14 15 9 8- 46
South Laurel 34 41 19 20- 114
Williamsburg (46) McRay 9 Teague 2, Cunningham 12, Fields 4, Kilgore 5, Conlin 5, Brock 2, Pettit 6, Williams 1.
South Laurel (114) – Proffitt 114, Allen 20, Hammonds 14, Goodin 8, Smith 8, Marcum 2, Riley 3, Conley 2, Hamm 6, Hibbard 5, Siler 5, Jones 6, Bortnem 4.