Hampton’s boys, Unaka girls take wins prep hoops action

Published 12:18 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019

STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Unaka Lady Rangers got off to a slow start Friday night on the creek.

Hampton’s Nicole Guy and Hazon Brummitt scored four points each, Madison McClain hit a trey and the Hampton Lady Bulldogs were out to a 13-5 first-quarter lead.

After nearly two minutes of playing in the second period, Coach Kenneth Chambers sent in KiKi Forney and turned his loose.

Her first shot only seconds after entering the game was deep in the left corner. Twenty seconds later she hit another three this one from deep on the right side of the floor and the Rangers were within two 13-11.

Lyndie Ramsey made a steal and took it to the goal knotting the game in the first three minutes of the second quarter.

The lead would change hands a couple of times and stay close with Unaka putting 20 points on the board for a 25-20 halftime lead as Forney hit three treys in the quarter.

Forney started the third off just like the second from deep in the center of the floor and the rout was on.

Ramsey scored seven of her 13 points in the third and Mailey Guy hit three baskets as Unaka outscored Hampton 19-4 in the third.

Six players would score for Unaka in the final period taking a 56-29 win over the Lady Bulldogs.

Besides Ramsey’s 13 points, Forney finished with 12 while Jada Whitehead and Macy Ensor scored nine points each.

Brummitt led Hampton with ten.

“Kiki played well and got us started tonight,” said Unaka head coach Kenneth Chambers. “We played as a team tonight, it was a good win.

“Tara Whitehead also really grew up tonight.”

Hampton and Unaka played an excellent half of basketball, but in the first three minutes of the third quarter was the turning point in the evening’s boy’s game.

Jordan Bentley, who had been held to only two points in the first half, scored ten points in the paint. He finished the game with 20 points leading the Bulldogs over Unaka 66-52.

The Rangers led the game 10-9 in the first period after the ‘Dogs had jumped out to a 5-0 run.

Ryan Johnson, who set a record for the most threes in a game earlier this year, was heavily guarded throughout the contest only getting a chance to fire up a couple of bombs.

Hampton head coach Ned Smith had prepared his team well for Friday’s contest as his team worked the ball inside and used the clock in the final minutes to gain open shots.

The ‘Dogs would lead by one at the half 24-23.

In the third quarter to go along with Bentley’s ten, Rocky Croy added seven points while putting up 21 for Hampton while the Rangers could only muster six points.

The final period was full of excitement as every time the Rangers would get within ten, Bentley went to work inside.

Will Sexton scored ten of his 24 points tying to rally the Rangers and hit five of seven from the free-throw line.

Unaka put up 25 points in the final quarter but the ‘Dogs 21 was enough for a 66-52 win.

Sexton led all scorers with 24 while Bentley from Hampton scored 20.

Croy was the second-highest scorer for the ‘Dogs with 13 with Johnson collecting 12 points for Unaka. Unaka hit 14 of 22 from the line while Hampton was 1 of 5.

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Girls
Unaka        5   20    19   12   -56
Hampton  13     7     4     5   -29
Unaka:  Ramsey 13, T. Whitehead 2, J. Whitehead 9, Grindstaff 1, Holly
3, Forney 12, Ensor 8, Guy 5.
Hampton: Orr 4, McClain 4, Collins 2, Watson 2, Guy 7, Brummitt 10.

Boys
Unaka      10   13     6   25 -52
Hampton   9   15   21   21  -66
Unaka:  Slagle 8, Sexton 24, Johnson 12, Whitehead 5, Drew 5.
Hampton:  Hill 7, Cash 4, Lyons 8. Vines 6, Oaks 8, Croy 13, Bentley 20.