MOUNTAIN CITY— It was a good thing for Johnson County that their second game of the evening didn’t go into overtime with the Unaka Rangers because there was just barely enough gas left in the tank.

The Longhorns narrowly picked up a win after holding off a ferocious charge by the Rangers 61-57 in the last of four games played in Ray Shoun Gym Saturday night.

Unaka (1-9, 9-19) was the aggressors early on as John Ramsey blistered the cotton for three treys in the first period to stake the Rangers to a 14-11 lead after one.

Johnson Co.’s (4-7,10-17) Jose Guzman and Cody Bailie knocked down four each to keep the game close.

The Rangers kept the pressure on in the second period as Colton Chambers netted five points to keep Unaka out front at intermission, 25-23.

Senior Caleb Throop netted four in the quarter leading the ‘Horns.

Both teams sensed that the energy needed to turn up a notch, and coming out of the locker room it was the ‘Horns that willed themselves out front for the first time in the contest by the end of the third quarter.

Bailie and Nathan Arnold tickled the cotton for six points apiece while Bud Icenhour registered five to push the ‘Horns out front 44-42.

Chambers was the go-to guy for the Rangers in the quarter as he added eight more points to his scoring column. Kyler Lewis added four.

With the game tight, the fourth quarter turned into a shoot-out.

Johnson Co. looked to pull away, but once again Chambers kept pulling the Rangers closer and closer by scoring 10 points—many coming off offensive rebounds.

In the end, the Longhorns managed to fend off the Rangers to take the hard fought contest after several three-point attempts fell just short for Unaka.

Chambers was the high man for the game with 26 points to go along with 13 boards. The totals pushed the Unaka senior over 500 points for the season as well as over 300 rebounds.

Lewis followed Chambers with 12 points while Ramsey hit double figures with 11.

Bailie followed up a solid game against Elizabethton by leading his team with 14 points in the win. Throop was on Bailie’s heels with 13 points. Icenhour and Guzman chipped in with eight.

Girls

Unaka……….66

Johnson Co…30

The Lady Rangers really didn’t get off to a great start, but Hannah Tipton took the lead and the rest of the Lady Rangers fell right in behind her as Unaka turned a 14-8 lead after one period into a 66-30 win over the Lady Longhorns.

Unaka’s (4-5, 17-11) Tipton poured in a game-high 23 points to show the way for Coach Kenneth Chambers’ team who saw nine players score at least three points or more.

Sierra Wright hit double figures with 12 for the Lady Rangers with Myah Parlier and Kaitlyn Weaver chipping in with six points each.

Sydney Markland added five while Sarah Tipton and Savannah Tipton logged four each. Lexi Garland and Kaitlyn Burrow finished off the scoring with three points apiece.

Courtney Brooks was tops for the Lady ‘Horns (0-12, 5-26) with 15 points. Michala Cretsinger registered seven points with Kelsey Duperry contributing six points.

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GIRLS

Unaka, 66-30

Unaka (66)

Sarah Tipton 4, Hannah Tipton 23, Lexi Garland 3, Savannah Tipton 4, Sydney Markland 5, Kaitlyn Burrow 3, Sierra Wright 12, Kaitlyn Weaver 6, Myah Parlier 6.

Johnson Co. (30)

Kelsie Terrill 1, Courtney Brooks 15, Kaitlyn Nichols 1, Kelsey Duperry 6, Michala Cretsinger 7.

Unaka…….…14   19   21   12 – 66

Johnson Co.… 8   10     5     7 – 30

3-PT GOALS: Unaka 5 (Hannah Tipton 2, Savannah Tipton, Sydney Markland, Kaitlyn Burrow). Johnson Co. 0.

 

BOYS

Johnson Co., 61-57

Unaka (57)

Kyler Lewis 12, Joe Searfoss 2, Gary Wright 5, Justin Houghton 1, Colton Chambers 26, John Ramsey 11.

Johnson Co. (61)

Bud Icenhour 8, Jose Guzman 8, Nathan Arnold 7, Brandon Vannoy 6, Caleb Throop 13, Cody Bailie 14, Sean Lewis 5.

Unaka…….… 14   11   17   15 – 57

Johnson Co.…11   12   21   17 – 61

3-PT GOALS: Unaka 4 (John Ramsey 3, Gary Wright). Johnson Co. 6 (Caleb Throop, Bud Icenhour 2, Sean Lewis, Nathan Arnold 2).