COSBY—Despite Unaka’s Colton Chambers recording a game-high 27 points, the Rangers couldn’t put out Cosby’s long-range fire Saturday night during the Region 1-A Quarterfinals. .

Popping 10 treys, seven in the first half, the Eagles defeated Unaka 77-57 to set up a semifinal date with Cloudland on Tuesday night inside Chuckey-Doak Middle School at 7:45 p.m.

The Rangers’ loss to Cosby was not due to the lack of effort, Unaka Head Coach Aaron Dugger said.

“I knew they would play hard and they did,” he said. “They played as hard as they could play. There were just times we could not get it over the hump.

“One thing that I told them in the dressing room just now was that I could not complain about their effort,” Dugger added. “We missed some shots at the rim that we usually make, and that was a big difference in the game.”

Senior Chambers made things look easy inside the paint Saturday as he racked up points in his final game with the Unaka Rangers.

“Colton has only been around for a year, but that kid has been excellent,” Dugger said.

Also scoring in double digits was Unaka senior Joe Searfoss, who totaled 10 points, six of which came from 3-pointers.

“Joe had been with me for four years,” Dugger said. “I have been on him for four years, and he is probably tickled to death that he won’t have to hear me anymore.

“He has grown up in the program,” Dugger added. “I am very proud of him. He had a huge game against South Greene that got us here. I just know he will do great at anything he tries to do.”

After one quarter of play, the Eagles led Unaka 19-14. In the opening frame, John Ramsey knocked down two 3-pointers, while Chambers and Searfoss each added a bucket in the period.

Knocking down three treys, Cosby was able to out score Unaka 19-11 in the second quarter to take a 38-25 lead into the half.

The Rangers opened up the third frame with a 6-2 run that was capped off with Chambers nailing a bucket and one to cut Cosby’s lead to eight. However, that would be as close as Rangers would get in the second half as the Eagles rolled to a 55-40 lead heading into the final frame. In the final quarter, the Eagles outpaced Unaka 22-17 as they sealed the deal.

Unaka (57)

Chambers 27, Lewis 16, Searfoss 8, John Ramsey 6.

Cosby (77)

Cody 26, Valentine 21, Sturm 10, Williams 7, Benjamin 5, McKeehan 4, Way 2.

Unaka 14 11 15 17 — 57

Cosby 19 19 17 22 — 77

3pt goals— Unaka 4 (Ramsey 2, Searfoss 2) Cosby 10 (Cody 5, Sturm 2, Valentine 2, Williams 1).