The story of Friday night’s contest between the Hampton Lady Bulldogs and Unaka’s Lady Rangers can be told in the last few minutes of the fourth period as Hampton held on to take a 57-53 Watauga Valley Conference win.

However, even though the Lady Bulldogs (13-8, 5-3) took the win, Unaka senior Hannah Tipton celebrated senior night in style leading the game in scoring with 27 points.

“Hannah for the whole game played really strong,” said Unaka head coach Kenneth Chambers. “She played like a senior. Offensively, she was just a juggernaut.”

On Hampton’s side of the ball, the Alexus Grubbs (22) and Shyanne Tuelle (20) duo led the way for the Lady Bulldogs as they combined for 42 points on the night.

The game came down to the final part of the fourth as each team fought to get the advantage. With 7:11 left in the game, the contest was knotted at 42, before the Lady Bulldogs launched into a 9-2 run that was sparked by a three from Tuelle. With the run, the Lady Bulldogs went up 51-47 with a minute left to play. After two foul shots from Grubbs, Hampton’s lead moved to 53-47. However, Unakas Sarah Tipton did not let that stand as she knocked down a three to cut Hampton edge to three points with roughly 30 seconds left to play. Hampton answered with two foul shots to push back out to a five point lead with the clock ticking down. With just 19 seconds on the clock, Hannah Tipton fired off a three that ripped the net putting the Lady Rangers within two of the Lady Dogs. However, Tuelle would go to the foul line one more time and hit two to seal the deal.

“Grubbs and Tuelle both hit some big free throws,” Hampton head coach Bud Hazelwood said. “I kept telling them that the last minute and a half was simple game. You have to take care of the ball and make free throws. Of course, Unaka goes down and gets two or three threes. They (Unaka) can all shoot. They (Unaka) are a good ball club.”

In the third period, Unaka (14-10, 3-5) out paced Hampton 17-14 with Hannah Tipton posting seven points in the frame, while her teammate Lexi Garland popped a three to help the Lady Rangers head into the fourth up 42-40.

Coming out of the first quarter, Unaka led 12-10. In the second frame, like most of the game, the teams played close. With 22 seconds left in the half, Hannah Tipton popped a three to put the Lady Rangers up 25-23. However, Grubbs posted four points down the stretch to allow the lady Bulldogs to take a 26-25 lead heading into the half.

Hampton 77, Unaka 52 (Boys)

For the first part of the first frame, the Rangers had Hampton’s number.

The Bulldogs, however, found themselves by the end of the first period, before taking a 77-52 win Friday night inside Unaka High School.

In the opening quarter, the Rangers quickly climbed out to a 6-0 lead. In the final minute of the quarter, the Bulldogs conducted an 11-point run that was capped off by three at the buzzer from Chris Holtsclaw to send Hampton into the second quarter up 19-12.

“They jumped out on us,” Hampton’s Nathan Norris said. “We really didn’t come ready to play. We just finally got into the flow and played some team ball.”

In the second frame, the Bulldogs kept their foot on the peddle, out scoring the Rangers 23-11 to head into the half up 42-23. Hampton’s Nathan Norris posted seven in the frame, while his teammate Jose Velasquez provided eight. Norris finished the night to lead Hampton 22 points, matching Unaka’s Colton Chambers’ 22 to share the leading scorer spot. Velasquez closed out the night with 16 points.

“He (Colton Chambers) is hard to guard,” Norris said about dealing with Chambers under the goal. “We were trying to stay in front of him. He just made it hard.”

The third quarter was much like the second with Hampton out doing the Rangers 21-13. Both Coby Jones and Norris scored seven points in the third quarter.

In the final frame, the Rangers fared a little better, posting 16 points over Hampton’s 14. Unaka’s Kyler Lewis had six points in the final quarter, before closing out the game with 14 points. Chamber posted five in closing period.

Girls

Hampton 57-53

Hampton 10 16 14 17 — 57

Unaka 12 13 17 11 — 53

Hampton (57)

Grubbs 22, Tuelle 20, Hill 9, Garland 4, Bridgeman 2.

Unaka (53)

H. Tipton 27, Sarah Tipton 7, Wright 6, Weaver 4, Burrow 3, Garland 3, Parlier 2, Savannah Tipton 1.

3pt goals — Hampton 4 (Tuelle 2, Grubbs, Hill), Unaka 6 (H. Tipton 3, Sar. Tipton 1, Garland 1, Burrow 1).

Boy

Hampton 77-52

Hampton 19 23 21 14 — 77

Unaka 12 11 13 16 — 52

Hampton (77)

Norris 22, Velasquez 16, Jones 9, Lyons 8, Crumley 6, Holtsclaw 5, Butler 5, McClain 4, Timmons 2.

Unaka (52)

Chambers 22, Lewis 14, Searfoss 8, Hardin 4, Ramsey 2, Houghton 1, Wright 1.

3pt goals — Hampton 2 (Holtsclaw, Velasquez) Unaka 2 (Searfoss).