Unaka falls to Lady Blue Devils’ hot start
Published 3:19 pm Sunday, December 1, 2024
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Keyona Hague (40) gets her layup to go despite being fouled hard from behind by Unicoi County’s Bella Sams (44) early in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Lauren Lund (1) makes her layup after Unicoi County’s Kaley Toney (11) fouls her on the way to the basket late in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Keyona Hague (40) goes back up strong for two in the lane over Unicoi County’s Bella Sams (44) late in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Lauren Lund (1) is called for an over-the-back foul as she tips away a rebound from Unicoi County’s Haley Rush (5) during third-quarter action in Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Lauren Lund (1) finishes the fast break with a runner in the lane during fourth-quarter action in Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent Lady Ranger Katlyn Dugger (23) gets nothing but net as she drains a three-pointer from the top of the key late in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic at Happy Valley High School.
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Star Correspondent
The Unicoi County Lady Blue Devils hit 5-of-7 three-point shots in the first quarter of Wednesday’s Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic girls basketball tournament at Happy Valley High School, opening a 17-7 first-quarter lead en route to a 50-37 victory over Unaka.
“They are a really good shooting team that got hot, and we couldn’t hit a couple of our shots,” Lady Rangers head coach Kenneth Chambers said. “I give them all the credit in the world. They physically played hard, and that’s what we need to do.”
Noelle Farnor was 2-for-2 from long range, and Kaley Toney was 2-for-3 beyond the arc as Unicoi County built a 15-0 first-period lead before Keyona Hague hit a bucket in the paint and a free throw for Unaka to stop the bleeding.
From there, the Lady Rangers were outscored by just three points the rest of the way, but the Lady Blue Devils’ hot start was too deep a hole for Unaka to dig out of.
“I thought Unicoi County played a little harder on us than we did on them,” Chambers said. “I thought that was a big difference in the game. Plus, they got that big lead on us, and we couldn’t catch back up.”
The Lady Blue Devils led 38-27 going into the fourth quarter, and Farnor opened the period with a trey and followed that with a three-point play as Unicoi County took a 44-27 advantage. Michelle Shields answered with a pair of free throws, and Lauren Lund hit a bucket as Unaka tried to muster a rally, but Toney banked in a corner trey as Unicoi County took command.
“I talked to their coach before the game, and he said they were having trouble scoring,” Chambers said. “Not tonight. We played hard, never gave up, but they just were more physical than we were, and this time of year, you have to bring some physicality to your game.”
Farnor led all scorers with 19 points, with Toney adding 15. For Unaka, Lund scored a team-high eight points, while Brooklyn Campbell and Katlyn Dugger each scored six points.
Valley Forge Thanksgiving Classic Girls Basketball Tournament
Unicoi County 50, Unaka 37
Unicoi County (50): Sams 4, Farnor 19, Rush 7, Toney 15, Rogers 1, Shelton 2, Vidrio 2.
Unaka (37): Lund 8, Douglas 3, Shields 6, Taylor 3, Campbell 6, Dugger 6, Hague 5.
Scoring by Quarter:
Unicoi Co. 17 11 10 12 — 50
Unaka 7 11 9 10 — 37
Three-Point Goals:
Unicoi County 10 (Farnor 4, Rush 1, Toney 5), Unaka 5 (Dugger 2, Campbell 1, Douglas 1, Taylor 1).
