Warriors can’t keep pace with nonconference Blue Devils
Published 6:47 pm Friday, February 14, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Shaniece Gardner muscles up for two points in the second period.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Coach Dana Hill calls a timeout to discuss defense as the second half starts.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Warriors traveled Thursday night to Unicoi to tune up before tournament play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Kymber Pruitt looks to the bottom of the arc for an open teammate.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley cheerleaders take a break between games.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Warriors traveled Thursday night to Unicoi to tune up before tournament play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Lane Parker hits the layup for two of his 12 points.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Austin Nickles elevates for the 10-foot jumper over the Blue Devils defender.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Warriors traveled Thursday night to Unicoi to tune up before tournament play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Artee Bahn sprints downcourt as the third period gets underway.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Warriors traveled Thursday night to Unicoi to tune up before tournament play.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Warriors traveled Thursday night to Unicoi to tune up before tournament play.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Tournament play is looming, and for some coaches, they look for a stiff challenge for their players to get focused and sharp. Such was the case Thursday night as the Warriors moved up in competition and hit the road to take on the Unicoi Blue Devils.
Girls – Unicoi 63, Happy Valley 35
The Lady Warriors watched as a fairly competitive game turned into a one-sided contest, as they scored just three points coming out of the locker room in the third period.
Bailee Jarrett got the Warriors on the board first as she knocked down a 3-pointer to start the game, but the Lady Blue Devils responded with a 7-0 run. Still, the Lady Warriors battled back as Cayden Anderson hit a couple of short jumpers, and the Warriors ended the first period down just seven.
The Lady Warriors closed the lead to four when Shaniece Gardner muscled up a shot over a couple of Lady Blue defenders. The Lady Blue Devils then went on a 5-0 run to push their lead to nine. Alex Moore hit an 8-foot jumper in the closing seconds, only to see Unicoi hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to go up 33-23 at the break.
The game-altering third period saw the Lady Blue Devils go on a 10-0 run and push the lead to 43-23 before Bailee drained a 3-pointer at the 1:43 mark. Kymber Pruitt tried to provide a spark off the bench in the final period, but it was too little, too late for the Lady Warriors.
The Lady Blue Devils hit 14 3-pointers in the game, led by Haley Rush, who hit five herself and scored 19 in the contest. Jarrett and Anderson each scored eight points for the Lady Warriors.
Boys – Unicoi 70, Happy Valley 46
The Warriors closed to within three points in the first period when Austin Nickles hit a 12-foot jumper off the glass. Unfortunately for the Warriors faithful in attendance, it was as close as they would get, as the Blue Devils went on a 10-0 run to go up 23-10 after the first period and never looked back.
Offensively, the Warriors got many good-looking shots but had difficulty finishing, particularly near the rim. Grady Goulds connected on a 3-pointer at the 1:43 mark to make it 34-19, but once again, the Blue Devils went on another 10-0 run to push the lead out to 43-24 at the half.
The second half saw good effort from the Warriors, but it also saw the Blue Devils hit six 3-pointers to extend the lead. Action was paused at the 1:51 mark of the third period when Lane Parker hit a mid-range jumper. On the following Blue Devil possession, Kaden Cutlip set a Unicoi record for single-season 3-pointers when he hit his fourth of the contest.
The Blue Devils were led by Jackson Simmons, who celebrated his senior night by scoring 23 points. For the Warriors, Lane Parker led the way with 12 points, while Austin Nickles chipped in nine.
Postgame, Warriors head coach Shane Williams shared that at this time of the year, it’s simply about the Warriors being more consistent.
“We need to be consistent on both sides of the ball, finish defensive possessions with a rebound, and on offense, we call it TCOB—take care of the ball!”
