North Laurel's Emily Sizemore needed just 15 points to tie the school record for career points, and she did just that as the Lady Jaguars pulled away from South Laurel for a 69-46 road-win on Monday, January 9.
Sizemore broke the school record with a midrange jumper in the third quarter of play. She finished with 26 points on the night. The record was previously held by Hailee Valentine.
“It’s truly a blessing,” Sizemore said when asked about the record, “There’s been a lot of hard work put into that, but I’ve also had a lot of great players around me to make my career this successful. There’s been a lot of great players before me. It’s just truly a blessing that I have been able to contain this record.”
Sizemore noted that she never wanted to make her career about personal accolades.
“I didn’t care if my name was in the big shining light or hanging up somewhere,” she said. “I just want to win. I just love the game and I love to play it. I love being the point guard, that’s all I’ve known. I love creating for other people and I love having the ball in my hands. If that’s my suffering a couple of points over the years I’m okay with that.”
The game got off to a slow start as South Laurel managed to keep it close, but Sizemore tossed in six points to give the Lady Jaguars a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. North Laurel outscored the Lady Cardinals 18-11 in the second quarter to pull away for a 32-21 advantage at the half.
Emily Cox tried to rally South Laurel in the third quarter with six points, all coming from free throws, but North Laurel outscored the Lady Cardinals 14-13 to take a 46-34 lead with one quarter left to play. Sizemore and Brook Nichelson scored four points each in the third quarter for North Laurel.
Nichelson stepped up big for the Lady Jaguars in the fourth quarter as she poured in 14 points. Nichelson led all scorers with 27 points on the night. Cox led South Laurel with 18 points, while Skeeter Mabe finished with 14 points.
North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan talked about Sizemore breaking the scoring record.
“She’s so smart and she loves the game,” Mahan said. “I am blessed to have been able to coach her. When she decided to stay back that Covid year, I could have celebrated for months. You don’t get floor general and leaders like her every day. I hope the North Laurel faithful understand just how special this kid is. They should be here watching her every last minute they have her.”
North Laurel improved to 10-3 and will be in action on Tuesday, January 10, at home against Oneida Baptist Institute at 7:30 p.m. South Laurel fell to 9-8 and will travel to Corbin on the same day for a 6:00 p.m. start.
Tim Branstetter, Sports Writer for The Kentucky Daily