Rangers battle Eagles in thrilling doubleheader
Published 10:29 am Friday, December 20, 2024
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Michelle Shields (3) of the Lady Rangers looks to pass to an open teammate.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Lady Rangers’ Kalli Shepard (24) shoots a layup.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Rangers’ John Hardin (55) scores two of his game-high 32 points.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent John Hardin (55) goes up strong against two Cosby defenders.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Lady Rangers’ Michelle Shields (3) drives for a layup.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Lady Rangers’ Keyona Hague (40) boxes out a Cosby defender.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent A Cosby player splits the Lady Rangers’ defense for two points.
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Unaka Girls Soar to 11-1, Boys Fall in Heartbreaker to 7-2
By C.Y. Peters
Star Correspondent
It was a night of fierce competition and dramatic moments as the Unaka Rangers hosted the Cosby Eagles in a basketball doubleheader. The Unaka Lady Rangers continued their impressive season, advancing to 11-1 with a hard-fought 49-44 victory, while the boys’ team came up just short in a nail-biting 68-66 loss.
Girls’ Game: Shields leads Lady Rangers to victory
The Unaka Lady Rangers showcased resilience and poise in a tightly contested matchup. Michelle Shields was the star of the night, pouring in 21 points, including a clutch 7-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. Shields’ calm under pressure sealed the win for Unaka in the game’s closing moments.
The Lady Rangers trailed 9-8 at the end of the first quarter but managed to edge ahead 21-20 at halftime. The battle intensified in the third quarter, with the score knotted at 33 heading into the final period. Unaka’s offense came alive in the fourth quarter, outscoring Cosby 16-11 to secure the win.
Katlyn Dugger added 13 points for Unaka, complementing Shields’ performance. Cosby’s Shyler Shelton led the Eagles with 15 points and is now just two points shy of becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. Azariah Spurgeon contributed 12 points for Cosby.
Unaka’s efficiency from the floor (50%, 13-of-26) and a strong showing at the free-throw line (8-of-11) proved pivotal in the victory.
Boys’ Game: Rangers fall just short in thriller
The Unaka boys’ team delivered an electrifying performance but fell in heartbreaking fashion as a last-second shot came up short, allowing the Cosby Eagles to escape with a 68-66 win.
The Eagles started the game red-hot, connecting on a flurry of shots to build a 37-29 halftime lead. However, the “never-say-die” Rangers clawed their way back into the game with a combination of stifling defense and timely shooting.
Mason Wilson was lethal from beyond the arc, draining six three-pointers to tally 18 points. Meanwhile, “Big” John Hardin was a dominant force inside, scoring a game-high 32 points and controlling the paint. T.J. Good and Aiden Walsh chipped in key baskets, while Austin Lambert’s second-half hustle—highlighted by his seven points and a legendary tackle-style box-out—kept the Rangers within striking distance.
Trailing by three in the final seconds, Walsh nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 63. But Cosby’s Cruz Coggins, one of the state’s best free-throw shooters, calmly sank two clutch foul shots to give the Eagles a 66-63 lead. Unaka’s Wilson answered with another game-tying three-pointer to make it 66-66 with 11 seconds left. Once again, Coggins went to the line with seven seconds to play and sealed the win, hitting both shots for a 68-66 final.
Coggins finished with 26 points, while Haiden McMahon added 22 for Cosby.
Despite the loss, the Rangers’ determination and thrilling comeback left the crowd buzzing. Alongside Hardin’s 32 and Wilson’s 18, Walsh’s late heroics underscored the heart and fight of this team.
Boys
Unaka: 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 — 66
Cosby: 16 | 21 | 19 | 12 — 68
Unaka Scorers: Hardin 32, Wilson 18, Lambert 7, Walsh 5, Good 4
Cosby Scorers: Coggins 26, McMahon 22, Wisfall 7, Woodson 4, Sneed 3, Spurgeon 6
Girls
Unaka: 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 — 49
Cosby: 9 | 11 | 13 | 11 — 44
Unaka Scorers: Lund 2, Douglas 3, Shields 21, Campbell 3, Dugger 13, Shepard 6, Hague 1
Cosby Scorers: Woods 2, Hance 7, Shelton 15, Miller 6, Spurgeon 12, Ottinger 2
