Bench Play Comes Up Big

The Cardinals would win their second contest in a row thanks to strong performances off the bench.

Jeff Davis and the Cardinals traveled to Rowan County to face off with Shelby Valley Wildcats. South Laurel would win the contest in the Stock Yards Bank & Trust Challenge 57-43.

Early foul trouble would put South Laurel in a tight spot throughout the first half. Bench play allowed the opportunity to keep the game close. Pressure in the second half would lead to several turnovers, of which the Cardinals took advantage to steal the game away.

Davis stressed the importance of his bench and how they are continuing to get better. With 3 starters in foul trouble early, several players had to step up and lead on the court. “We need them, and they will continue to get better as the season progresses,” said Davis.

Hunter Bundy and Joshua Steele both made their presence known when checking into the game for South Laurel. Bundy mentioned, “It is crucial for me to be able to come off the bench, ready to contribute to the team. When we get into foul trouble, I have to go in and play big minutes for our team”. Steele would add, “When our team is in foul trouble, we must play smart with high intensity. I help keep my team motivated by hyping them up on the defensive side of the court”.

Heading into the Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge, Coach Jeff Davis plans for his team to reset and play the next game. “This was a big win versus a very talented Shelby Valley team. Now we need to see if we can reset and focus on the next one. We wanted to continue to improve each day. I really like how we are progressing right now”.

South Laurel improves to 4-3 on the season. The Cardinals will face Green County in their first game of the Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge. This matchup is set for December 20th, with tipoff at 6:30 pm.

Scoring: Gover 29, Mabe 16, Payne 6, Jones 4, Garland 2

-Dylan Wilson, SL Basketball Media