North Laurel - 13th Region Champion State Tournament Preview

School: North Laurel

City: London, KY

Mascot: Jaguars

Record: 22-10

KHSAA Sweet 16 Opponent: Breathitt County (14th Region Champions). 

North Laurel (according to KHSAA Records) is 3-2 against the Bobcats.

- Dec. 16 2008  North Laurel 70-56.

- Jan. 8th 2009 Breathitt County 86-80.

- Jan. 8th 2013 Breathitt County 43-40.

- Dec. 2nd 2016 North Laurel 85-67.

- Dec. 23rd 2017 North Laurel 81-39.

North Laurel only has one senior on the team, and he's contributed in a major way: Kole Jervis. The Jags have won 5 straight and 7 of they're final 8 games.

Key Wins: Harlan County, Corbin, South Laurel, Pulaski County, Madison Central, Lexington Catholic, Jeffersontown.

Key Losses: Manual, Calloway County, Trinity.

49th District Tournament:

North Laurel punched their ticket to the 13th region by knocking off OBI in the first round game. They didn't play great and only won by 18, but they did enough to get things going and to get the train rolling

North would then play Clay County in the district final, a team they had split the season series with to this point. They won this one by 12, and this set them up nicely going into the region. Reece Davidson scored 28 in the win and Jervis had 14. This was the beginning of what would be a big run for those two.

13th Region Tournament:

North Laurel didn't get a great draw after winning the district. They drew the Corbin Redhounds, who had beaten them twice the past month. A lot of people had penciled in Corbin as a region dark horse, and had a big time matchup with them and HC waiting. However, North had other plans. They rolled into the Arena and thumped Corbin 66-41. The game was never close and never in doubt. Kole Jervis had 20 with six 3's and Davidson only had 5. This was a sign of great things to come. 

North would then go on to play Harlan County. Most were looking ahead now to a HC and SL final. Besides, HC was the defending region champ and favorite. Late in the third it seemed like HC was about to bust it open. They had just drained a 3 and were up 9. This is where North flipped the switch. North would go on a run to cut it to 3 late, and a 3 by Kole Jervis with 10 seconds left would tie the game to send it to OT. From OT, it was North all the way. Davidson finished with 23 and the Jags won 53-47 in OT in the upset. 

This set up the crosstown rivalry for the region championship. South had knocked off North twice prior this season. Sounds a lot like how they started the first game of region off, huh? North got their revenge with a 49-44 OT win over the Cardinals. The usual Davidson and Jervis had big games, but it was Cooper Elza who was Mr. Clutch in this one. He finished with 10 of North's final 15 points, including all 6 in OT that made the difference. Reece Davidson was the tournaments MVP, and he finished with 13 points, 5 boards, 2 steals, and 1 assist. Jordan Rawlings had 13 with three 3's, and had one steal. Jervis had 3 points and 5 assists. It was an all around great game by the Jags. 

Key Players To Watch:
Kole Jervis (SR) - The lone senior for the Jags. He was on fire during the region. He averaged 8.4 on the season, but I would say he will hit past those numbers at state. 

Reece Davidson (JR) - Averages nearly a double double a game with 21 and 10. He's a force on defense and a force on the boards. He's Mr. Do It All for the Jags. 

Jordan Rawlings (JR) - The second leading scorer for North with 10 per game. Shoots 41% from 3 and 75% from the line.