Unaka wins the Battle over Happy Valley
Published 5:58 am Wednesday, December 11, 2019
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Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Both teams took time to show true sportsmanship after the contest.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Unaka's Will Sexton goes up for a shot against Happy Valley's Luke Roberts.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Unaka's Dylan Whitehead takes it strong to the rim.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Happy Valley's Jaden Clark challenges the Unaka defense.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Unaka's Mailey Guy shoots over the defense of Lady Warrior Shayln Whitson.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Unaka's Macy Ensor attempts a tough shot.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Happy Valley's Shayln Whitson goes up for a shot over three Unaka defenders.
BY C.Y. PETERS
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons wrote a song about the Happy Valley at Unaka game on Monday and it was called “O What a Night.”
I’m not sure what the price is for admission to the game but you could not have attended a UFC match, a WWE Main Event, or seen more arms in use at an Ali-Frazier fight.
There were body slams, face to face meetings, armbars, intentional fouls, technical fouls, and many elbows being exchanged.
It was a blast from the past, Carmen Whitehead was seen reaching in his pocket, fans from both sides nearly on the floor, hanging from the rafters, and a flashback of Sue Butler and Etta Mae Ingram coming off the top bleacher with an elbow to the head of a referee.
But after they sit the coach down who ran onto the floor and threw a few fans out, Unaka came away with a thrilling 64-49 win.
The officials lost control of the game early and never regained it. In the coach’s defense, he was just trying to stop something from advancing after a hard foul, which could have been intentional but wasn’t called.
Both teams played hard, had the will to win, they left everything they had on the court and after the game, the boys lined up, shook hands, and even some hugged each other’s necks, showing what great sportsmanship both teams represented.
The Rangers hit eleven three-pointers to the Warriors three in the game as Ryan Johnson led Unaka with 24 points, Dylan Whitehead who just could not be stopped under the basket followed with 16 and Will Sexton controlled the ball and scored 13.
Happy Valley’s Noah Stevens tossed in a game-high 27 points, some from past the NBA three-point line, to lead the Warriors with 19 points coming in the first half.
The game was close with both teams exchanging leads throughout the first three quarters.
With 6:07 to play in the game, Whitehead broke loose underneath to extend the Rangers lead to three, 48-45. A minute later he repeated the feat shooting over two defenders and putting Unaka up by five.
He did this two more times for eight straight points and a 54-45 score, Unaka’s biggest lead.
From there it was all Rangers as Sexton made a steal for a basket and before Happy Valley could get a time out, they were down by eleven.
Johnson would do what he does best, hitting three’s and it shut the door on any chance of a comeback as the Rangers went on to hand the Warriors their first defeat.
Unaka outscored the Warriors 21-11 in the final period.
“We kept our composure and the team effort they played is how they must play every game” stated Coach Aaron Dugger. “It was a high-level game with two old school rivals,” said Dugger.
In the girl’s game, it was also packed with action.
Lyndie Ramsey tried to rally the Rangers nailing three treys in the final minutes but came up short with the Lady Warriors winning 47-42.
The Rangers had a chance to tie the score after a miscue trailing by three but were unable to get a final shot off.
Shayln Whitson was just unstoppable for the Lady Warriors, she controlled the boards and added 20-points while shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line.
Kadie Bailey nailed two three’s in the first and ended with nine points.
Unaka led at the first stop, 15-9.
Macy Ensor scored the first three points of the game from deep outside for Unaka.
The Lady Warriors would work the ball inside in the second period as Whitson scored 12 points in the quarter. Happy Valley outscored Unaka by two in the third and the Rangers scored 16 to Happy Valley’s 14 in the final stanza but the lead they built before half time was enough for the win.
Ramsey led the Rangers with 21 points and Jada Whitehead followed with 12.
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Boys
Unaka 12 15 16 21 -64
Happy Valley 14 14 10 11 -49
Unaka: Slagle 9, Sexton 13, Johnson 24, Whitehead 16, Drew 2.
Happy Valley Willis 8, Stevens 27, Roberts 4, Harman 4, Babb 2, Lunceford 5.
Girls
Unaka 15 4 7 16 – 42
Happy Valley 9 15 9 14 – 47
Unaka: Ramsey 21, Whitehead 12, Grindstaff 2, Guy 2, Ensor 3, Depew 2.
Happy Valley: Whitson 20, Lunceford 2, Clark 5, Bailey 11, Ramey 3, Campbell 3, Moore 2.
Unaka 12 15 16 21 -64
Happy Valley 14 14 10 11 -49
Unaka: Slagle 9, Sexton 13, Johnson 24, Whitehead 16, Drew 2.
Happy Valley Willis 8, Stevens 27, Roberts 4, Harman 4, Babb 2, Lunceford 5.
Girls
Unaka 15 4 7 16 – 42
Happy Valley 9 15 9 14 – 47
Unaka: Ramsey 21, Whitehead 12, Grindstaff 2, Guy 2, Ensor 3, Depew 2.
Happy Valley: Whitson 20, Lunceford 2, Clark 5, Bailey 11, Ramey 3, Campbell 3, Moore 2.
