Sexton, Slagle, tag-team Warriors for 63-56 win
Published 1:23 am Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Star Photo/CY Peters Happy Valley basketball celebrated Senior Night when the Warriors hosted the Unaka Rangers.
Star Photo/CY Peters Alex Lunceford and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Blake Young and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Timmy Mounts and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Andrew Clawson and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Emma Blevins and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Olivia Absher and family.
Star Photo/CY Peters Unaka's Devin Ramsey throws up a running one-hander against Happy Valley.
Star Photo/CY Peters Will Sexton takes the ball to the rack.
Star Photo/CY Peters Gabby Wood battles for possession of the basketball among a trio of Lady Ranger defenders.
Star Photo/CY Peters Olivia Absher takes the basketball to the rim with authority.
Star Photo/CY Peters Kadie Bailey puts a shot up for Happy Valley.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
BY CY PETERS
Will Sexton and Joesph Slagle teamed up to score 48 of Unaka’s 63
points and spoil the Senior Night for the Happy Valley Warriors.
Sexton scored 18 of his 26-points in the second half, while Slagle hit
six threes.
Happy Valley led at the end of the first 15-14 as five players for the
Warriors scored in each of the first two quarters led by Alex Lunceford
with six.
Lunceford, who played a great game suffered a foot injury late in the game.
He returned while limping and adding a big basket in the final quarter. Blake
Young also had a great game for the Warriors scoring 16 of his 20 points in
the second half.
The Rangers led by two at the half and would outscore Happy Valley
by three in the third.
Unaka took advantage of Happy Valley’s foul trouble and turnovers in the
final period to build a 12 point lead.
Two big threes near the end would pull the Warriors back with seven, but
time expired and the Rangers won 63-56. Sexton led the Rangers with 26
while Young led Happy Valley with 20.
Girls
Happy Valley…44
Unaka………….36
“Thank God it’s over – I’m glad there is no fifth quarter,” said Happy Valley
Coach Dana Hill after his team saw a 16-point fourth-quarter lead cut to six
with 4:29 left in the game.
Unaka Sophomore Lyndie Ramsey was held to only two points in the first half
but would lead all scorers with 25 in a late rally for the Lady Rangers.
The Lady Warriors aerial attack was led by Olivia Absher who scored
ten points and handled the ball for the Warriors.
Holly Moore also scored ten while Kadie Bailey added seven. The game was
close in the first but Happy Valley held Unaka to only one point in the second
while piling up 14 points for a 23-7 lead at the break.
Unaka outscored the Warriors 29-21 in the second half but just could not put
together any great runs.
Trailing 37-21 at the 6:47 mark, Unaka’s only good sequence would be a
ten-point run and cut the Warriors led 37-31.
Gabby Wood hit a big three for Happy Valley and sealed the win on Senior Night
for Coach Hill.
—
Boys
Unaka 14 16 15 18 -63
Happy Valley 15 13 12 16 -56
Unaka: Sexton 26, Blamo, Slagle 22, L. Ramsey 3, D. Ramsey 5, Shomaker
4, Seigfried 3.
Happy Valley: Clawson 11, Little 5, Murray 5, Young 20, Lunceford 12,
Mounts 3.
Girls
Unaka 6 1 14 15 -36
Happy Valley 9 14 11 10 -44
Unaka: Ramsey 25, Whitehead 2, Ensor 7, Simerly 2.
Happy Valley: Moore 10, Wood 4, Blevins 8, M. Moore 5, Absher 10.
