Despite a big game from Lady Longhorn Taylor Cox, the Lady Rangers fended off Johnson County, 40-33, Tuesday evening in Stoney Creek.

Out of the gate, the Lady Rangers jumped out to a 14-1 lead after one. In the first quarter, the Lady Rangers Madison Pierce and Jada Whitehead each had two 3-pointers each while Myah Parlier had a bucket to pace Unaka.

The Lady Longhorns, however, picked up some momentum in the second quarter as they outscored Unaka 9-7 in the period to make it a 21-10 game heading into intermission. The second quarter saw Johnson County’s Taylor Cox rack up eights while Unaka’s Savannah Tipton had a bucket and a 3-pointer to pick up five points.

Parlier had six points in the third for the Lady Rangers as Johnson County outworked Unaka, 14-11, in the quarter. Cox was on fire again as she posted nine points in the frame. Unaka led 32-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Longhorns managed nine points in the fourth while the Lady Ranger worked the nets for eight. Parlier posted four more points in the final quarter while Cox had six to give her a game-high 21 points. Parlier led Unaka with 12, while Tipton and Whitehead each recorded nine points apiece.

(Boys) Johnson County 69, Unaka 46

Two big games from Johnson County’s Blake Atwood and Lucas Phillips would be enough for the Longhorns to topple Unaka.

Phillips led the way with 20 points while Atwood followed closely behind with 19.

The two combined for 19 points in the first half as the Longhorns took a 37-29 lead into the half. The Rangers saw Ryan Johnson score ten points as he hit two treys in the first half. Unaka’s Isaac Hill followed up with eight points in the first half as teammate John Ramsey posted six.

In the second half, the Rangers would only post 17 points to Johnson County’s 32.

Hill led Unaka with 13. points.