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By C.Y. Peters

Losses are part of the game. What matters is how a team responds to adversity. That will be the focus for the Unaka Rangers after a tough night against North Greene, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams fell in tightly contested matchups.

Lady Rangers let lead slip away

The Unaka Lady Rangers led 26-25 at the end of the third quarter, fueled by a strong effort from Katlyn Dugger and Kali Sheppard. An 11-3 run in the third quarter gave Unaka momentum heading into the final frame, but North Greene’s Hannah Miller turned the tide with a stellar fourth-quarter performance. Miller scored 10 of her game-high 15 points in the final period, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, leading the Huskies to a 17-point surge.

Despite a valiant effort, the Lady Rangers struggled offensively in the final minutes, managing just nine points in the fourth quarter, ultimately falling 42-35. The absence of Michelle Shields, Unaka’s leading scorer, who was out with an ankle injury, was felt throughout the game. Sheppard stepped up in her absence, knocking down six 3-pointers and finishing with 18 points. Dugger added eight, but it wasn’t enough to stop the late North Greene comeback.

The Lady Rangers had limited opportunities at the free-throw line, attempting only two shots from the stripe all night, with Ari Sutherland converting one in the first quarter. Meanwhile, North Greene capitalized on their chances, going 7-for-12.

Rangers fall in heartbreaker

The boys’ game was a battle from the opening tip, with Unaka storming out to a 10-3 lead behind Austin Lambert and Jackson Deyton. However, North Greene responded with an 8-0 run to take a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

By halftime, the Huskies had stretched their advantage to 31-26, but Unaka refused to back down. T.J. Good and Aiden Walsh played key roles in keeping the Rangers within striking distance. Good finished as the leading scorer for Unaka with 15 points, while John Hardin battled in the paint, pulling down crucial rebounds to help the Rangers regain a five-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

However, North Greene’s Lawson Davenport stole the show in the closing moments. With the game tied at 50, Davenport took control, delivering a clutch performance in the final minute. He hit a crucial shot to tie the game and then, with just three seconds remaining, drained the game-winning bucket, securing a dramatic 56-55 victory for the Huskies.

With the win, North Greene claimed the conference championship with a perfect 6-0 record and an impressive 24-4 overall mark. Unaka, now 14-8, finished third in the conference standings. The Rangers will look to bounce back in their final regular-season game on Monday when they travel to Washburn, while North Greene will close out their schedule with a matchup at Sullivan East on Tuesday.

Despite the losses, Unaka showed resilience and grit. With the postseason approaching, the Rangers will focus on regrouping and using these tough defeats as motivation moving forward to the tournaments.

Girls

Unaka – 9 6 11 9 – 35
North Greene – 15 7 3 17 – 42

Unaka – Lauren Lund 3, Emma Douglas 2, Ari Sutherland 4, Katlyn Dugger 8, Kalli Sheppard 18
North Greene – Kaydence Marshall 9, Loren Blevins 6, Josie Graham 6, Ella Head 8, Hannah Miller 15

 

Boys

Unaka – 12 14 13 11 5 – 55
North Greene – 13 18 8 11 6 – 56

Unaka – John Hardin 9, Mason Wilson 6, Rylan Crabtree 2, Austin Lambert 8, Aiden Walsh 13, T.J. Good 15, Jackson Deyton 2.
North Greene – Jaiden Bentley 3, Lawson Davenport 22, Tyler Britton 10, Thomas Danell 10, Lance Carrico 9.