Unaka, Hampton split pair on hardwood
Published 12:17 am Wednesday, November 20, 2019
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
The Unaka Jr. Rangers visited Hampton on Monday looking to play inspired basketball as Hampton being the larger school played their junior varsity teams against the visitors from Stoney Creek.
In the boy’s contest, the Jr. Rangers built a 20-11 halftime lead and managed to stave off a Jr. Bulldog rally in the second half to take a 35-31 win.
After scoring only six points in the first quarter, Unaka really got rolling in the second period behind John Hardin who scored eight of his 10 first-half points in the quarter.
Julian Wright and Austin Lambert added four points each to help the Jr. Rangers build their advantage.
Caden Davis led the Jr. ‘Dogs in the first half with six points. Ezra Tolley and Jamie Turbyfill added a deuce apiece.
Hampton put together a better second half as the Jr. ‘Dogs scored 20 in the final half while holding Unaka to 15 as the first half was the difference in the contest.
Davis was hotter than a pistol in the second half as the guard tried to put the ‘Dogs on his back scoring 12 of his team-high 18 in the second half of play.
But it was Hardin that was the difference-maker for the Jr. Rangers as he finished the game with a game-high 19 points for the winners.
Lambert played a huge supportive role tossing in 10 points to reach double-figures with Harden.
Wright finished with four points and Aiden Walsh totaled two points for Unaka.
Maddux Wilson tallied five points for Hampton in the close decision while Tolley, Coner McKinney, Turbyfill, and Thomas Shepard collected two points each for the Jr. ‘Dogs.
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Girls
Hampton…..36
Unaka……….13
The Jr. Lady ‘Dogs JV team played stingy defense in the first quarter against the Jr. Lady Rangers hold the visitors to zero points in the opening quarter while scoring 13 and never looked back to take the big win.
Piper Helle and Abbie Lunsford scored four points each in the first half to pace Hampton while getting balanced scoring from their teammates to establish an 18-6 at intermission.
Williams scored four and Thomas two points to account for Unaka’s points.
Faye Carrico came alive in the second half for Hampton scoring eight points, six in the final quarter, to make sure her team stayed out front.
The Jr. Lady ‘Dogs matched their offensive output from the first half scoring 18 second-half points to put the game away.
Carrico led all scorers with 11 points while Hannah Smith finished with five points for Hampton.
The Jr. Lady ‘Dogs also got the four points from Helle, Chloe Trivett, and Lunsford while Ella Eastep, Haylie Point, Brea Hicks, and Taylor Geisler added two points apiece.
For Unaka, Williams closed out the contest with seven of the Jr. Lady Rangers 13 points.
C. Hardin added four points and Thomas balanced the scorebook with two points.
