North Laurel, Bell County Advance to Girls 13th Region Semifinals

Jaguars and Bobcats to face off in regional semifinal matchup

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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North Laurel and Bell County high school girls basketball teams advanced to the semifinals of the 13th Region Tournament with wins over Barbourville and Whitley County, respectively. North Laurel dominated Barbourville 66-14, while Bell County defeated Whitley County in a low-scoring 39-30 affair.

Why it matters

The 13th Region Tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school girls basketball teams in the region. Advancing to the semifinals is a significant achievement for both North Laurel and Bell County, as they look to continue their postseason runs and potentially earn a spot in the state tournament.

The details

In the North Laurel vs. Barbourville game, the Jaguars raced out to a 24-8 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back, winning 66-14. Laylee Phillips led North Laurel with 14 points, while Mariella Claybrook and Haley Combs added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Combs also had a game-high 11 steals. The Bell County vs. Whitley County matchup was a low-scoring affair, with the Bobcats leading 14-6 at halftime. Bell County pulled away in the second half, winning 39-30. Kairi Lamb recorded a double-double for the Bobcats, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Madisyn Hopkins led Whitley County with 14 points.

  • The 13th Region Tournament semifinals will be played on Friday, March 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Corbin, Kentucky.
  • North Laurel finished the regular season with a 23-6 record.
  • Bell County ended the regular season with a 23-7 record.

The players

North Laurel Jaguars

The North Laurel high school girls basketball team, who dominated their first-round matchup against Barbourville.

Bell County Bobcats

The Bell County high school girls basketball team, who defeated Whitley County in a low-scoring regional quarterfinal game.

Laylee Phillips

A North Laurel player who scored a game-high 14 points in the win over Barbourville.

Haley Combs

A North Laurel player who finished with 10 points and a game-high 11 steals against Barbourville.

Kairi Lamb

A Bell County player who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Whitley County.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The winners of the 13th Region Tournament semifinals on Friday will advance to the regional championship game on Saturday.

The takeaway

Both North Laurel and Bell County have proven themselves to be among the top girls basketball teams in the 13th Region this season. Their semifinal matchup on Friday will be a highly anticipated contest as they look to earn a spot in the regional championship game and potentially the state tournament.