A 27-6 first quarter got the Unaka Lady Rangers off to a flying start on Friday evening in the TSSAA region 1-2A playoff against Washburn at Snavely gym. Unaka (24-10) went on to post a 67-22 victory over the Lady Pirates.

Junior post Myah Parlier scored 17 of her game-high 25 points in the first half with three blocked shots and five rebounds. Savannah Tipton and Ericka Potter each had 10 points for the Lady Rangers in the first half.

“I thought we came out with a lot of enthusiasm and wanting to win,” Lady Rangers head coach Kenneth Chambers said. “At this point, you have to come out every game, if you don’t you go home.”

Parlier had four buckets in the third period as Unaka stretched its lead to 60-17 going into the fourth quarter of full running clock.

“We ran the floor well,” Chambers said. “Myah did a good job inside. Myah has been playing well inside, but it was a good team effort. Sarah did a good job getting the ball to her and Ericka had a good game inside as well.”

Chambers emptied his bench in the fourth quarter as Jada Whitehead (3 points), Zoey Grindstaff (2 points) and Trinity Houghton (2 points) all saw playing time in front of a raucous home crowd.

“We got to play everyone in the second half,” Chambers said. “They had a little nervousness, but the longer they played the better they looked. Washburn won 20 games this year, so you have to take them seriously. You can’t overlook anyone.”

Potter finished with 12 points and seven rebounds to go with three steals. Unaka will face Cosby (19-9) on Monday at Cocke County as the Eagles defeated Hampton 44-36. Cloudland held off Greenback 53-45 in the other region game.

For Washburn Sierra Bailey led the Lady Pirates with eight points with Haley Nicley adding seven.

TSSAA

Region 1-2A playoffs

Snavely gymnasium

Unaka 67-22

Washburn (22)

Tolliver 2, Bailey 8, Nicley 7, Bowlin 1, Scearce 4.

Unaka (67)

S. Tipton 2, Garland 3, Sav. Tipton 10, Parlier 25, Potter 12, Forney 5, Lowe 3, Whitehead 3, Grindstaff 2, Houghton 2.

Washburn 6 4 7 5 – 22

Unaka 27 21 12 7 – 67

3-point goals: W 1 (Scearce), U 2 (Sav. Tipton 2)