BOWLING GREEN - Senior guard Brianna Fraley and freshman guard/forward Lakyn Mullins scored 15 points apiece as 15th Region champion Shelby Valley held on to defeat 13th Region champ Corbin 45-38 Wednesday night in the opening round of the Girls’ Sweet 16 at Western Kentucky University’s E.A. Diddle Arena.

Mullins also pulled down nine rebounds for Shelby Valley (29-4), which is under the direction of head coach Rodney Rowe. A very successful head coach, Rowe has now guided Shelby Valley girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to state tournaments.

The Wildcats drained 18 of 24 free throws en route to the win.

Sarah Ashley led Corbin (27-9) with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Shelby Valley secured an early lead and never trailed. The Wildcats lost an eight-point lead that they carried into halftime, though. Shelby Valley led 22-14 at intermission.

The Rodney Rowe-coached Shelby Valley girls’ basketball team clung to a 39-38 lead with 1:57 remaining.

Corbin (27-9) went scoreless the rest of the way.

Corbin, however, didn’t score in the final 1:57.

Shelby Valley advanced to the Girls’ Sweet 16 after beating Sheldon Clark in the 15th Region Tournament title game.

In other opening round games on Wednesday it was Anderson County 65, Henderson County 54; Marion County 64, Bowling Green 43 and Montgomery County 60, Ashland Blazer 49.

Shelby Valley advanced to play Anderson County Friday. Tip-off for the Shelby Valley-Anderson County girls’ basketball game is set for 1;30 p.m.