Unaka dominates Washburn, advances to Regional Final Four
Published 12:56 pm Monday, March 3, 2025
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Unaka’s John Hardin (55) shoots a short jumper for two points.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Rylan Crabtree (15) drives in for a layup for the Rangers.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent A Washburn player boxes out Austin Lambert (50). Lambert scored 13 points in the win.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Unaka’s John Hardin (55) goes up strong for two points.
C.Y. Peters/Star Correspondent Jackson Deyton (40) scores on a layup for the Rangers.
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By C.Y. Peters
Star Correspondent
The Unaka Rangers took one step closer to a sub-state appearance with an overwhelming 80-43 victory over Washburn in the regional tournament. From the opening tip, Unaka set the tone with Austin Lambert drilling a three-pointer just seconds into the game, igniting a dominant offensive performance that saw the Rangers never look back.
Midway through the first quarter, T.J. Good came off the bench and made an immediate impact, recording two quick steals that helped Unaka extend its lead to 18-8. Rylan Crabtree and Mason Wilson also connected from beyond the arc, while Big John Hardin established his dominance in the paint with 12 points and four blocked shots. Washburn struggled to keep up with Unaka’s quick guard play and simply had no answer for Hardin’s physical presence inside. By the end of the first quarter, the Rangers had built a commanding 24-11 lead.
The second quarter saw six different Rangers contribute to the scoring effort, with Lambert adding five points and Aiden Walsh chipping in four. Unaka’s relentless attack continued as it hit 7 of 10 free throws in the period, extending the lead to a comfortable 45-18 advantage at the halftime break.
Unaka showed no signs of slowing down in the third quarter, pouring in 28 more points. Good and Hardin each scored six points in the period, with Good doing all his damage from the free-throw line. Peyton Guess nailed a three-pointer to push the lead to 70-28, and Jackson Deyton’s basket moments later gave the Rangers a 40-point cushion at 80-40.
With the game well in hand, Coach Aaron Dugger turned to his second- and third-string players in the final quarter, allowing them to gain valuable experience while protecting the lead. Unaka cruised to an 80-43 victory, securing its spot in the regional final four and moving within one win of a sub-state berth.
Hardin led the Rangers with a dominant 22-point performance, while Lambert added 13 and Good finished with 11. Matthew Harville was the lone bright spot for Washburn, scoring 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep its season alive. Washburn finished the year with a 7-19 record.
Unaka, now 18-9 on the season and just two wins away from a 20-win campaign, will face Cosby on Tuesday night at West Ridge High School for a chance to advance to the regional championship game and secure a sub-state appearance. The Rangers were solid from the free-throw line, hitting 19 of 28 attempts, while Washburn managed just 12 of 21 from the charity stripe.
With momentum on their side, the Rangers are eager to continue their postseason run and inch closer to their ultimate goal: a trip to the state tournament.
Unaka 24 21 28 7 – 80
Washburn 11 7 10 15 – 43
Unaka: John Hardin 22, Mason Wilson 8, Rylan Crabtree 7, Austin Lambert 13, T.J. Good 11, Aiden Walsh 7, Peyton Guess 6, Jackson Deyton 2, Julian Wright 2.
Washburn: Bryson Clay 8, Storm Carpenter 3, Dillon Mullins 5, Justin Bailey 3, Landry Coffey 3, Issac Southland 1, Bryson Coffman 2, Matthew Harville 17, Chase Davis 1.
