BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN

CORRESPONDENT

Two first half mini runs gave Cosby all the cushion they needed in a non conference match on Friday at Snavely gym. A seven point first quarter run and an eight point second period run gave the Lady Eagles a 24-12 lead by halftime against Unaka and Cosby (11-5 overall) went on to a 48-31 victory.

“Turnovers and we didn’t play with the desire we needed to,” said Lady Rangers head coach Kenneth Chambers. “I don’t know if it was nerves or what, it is only our fourth home game. I thought Hannah Tipton played hard and Renya Austin played to her ability.

“We have got to go out and play with confidence and have confidence in what you do.”

A three pointer from Kristen Coggins and a deuce by Maddy Dawson gave Cosby a 13-6 lead and another two pointer from Coggins made it 15-6 before a free throw from Ashley Doss and a rebound and put back bucket from Hannah Tipton made it a 13-9 contest.

Cosby opened the third quarter with a pair of steals and buckets from Madison Norris and deuce by Brooke Schreder to stake the Eagles to a 30-12 advantage. The Lady Rangers (5-13) continued to have turnover problems with eight in the first half and another three to open the third period as Cosby opened a 32-12 lead before a bucket by Katlyn Weaver stemmed the tide for Unaka.

A pair of three pointers for Unaka, one by Lexi Garland and another from sophomore guard Amber Burke cut the Eagles lead to 35-20 with 1:37 left in the third quarter.

Norris led all scorers with 12 points for Cosby while Hannah Tipton’s 11 point effort was tops for the Rangers.

Cosby (48)

Hall 3, Norris 12, Williams 4, Schreder 11, Conrad 8, Coggins 5, Dawson 3, Barger 2.

Unaka (31)

S.Tipton 4, H.Tipton 11. Garland 6, Burke 3, Doss 1, Weaver 2, Wright 1, Ausrin 3.

Cosby     13 11 13 11 – 48

Unaka       4   8 10   9 – 31

3-point goals: C 1 (Coggins), U 4 (Garland 2, Burke 1, H.Tipton 1)

 

BOYS

Cosby     55

Unaka     39

The Eagles (16-4) ran off the first nine points of the game, but Unaka (3-15) battled to close to within 15-8 after one period with point guard Joe Searfoss scoring four for the Rangers.

A deuce from Kyler Lewis in the second period cut the deficit to 16-13 for Unaka with 4:22 remaining in the quarter, but Cosby answered with a pair of free throws from Kurry Cody.

Cosby took a 24-17 lead into the break with forward Kyal Clevinger’s nine points leading the way. The Eagles scored the first two buckets of the second half – both by Jordan Self as Cosby led 28-17 with 7:07 left in the stanza.

Three point plays by Brandon Guinn and Gary Wright enabled the Rangers to cut the Eagles lead to 30-23 with 2:43 left in the third quarter and after a Cosby turnover Searfoss dropped in a deuce in the lane to make it a 30-25 game.

Cosby opened the fourth period with buckets from Michael Hood and three from Clevinger to extend to a 43-28 advantage before Travis Overdorf’s three point play cut it to a 43-31 game.

“We’re getting better,” said Rangers head coach Aaron Dugger. “They are playing hard and for 27 minutes they played as hard as they can play against a very good basketball team.

“Cosby has a rich tradition and a good basketball team. They are ranked in the top five for a reason and in the last three or four minutes it got away from us. I can’t fault the effort and as long as they keep playing hard, fighting and scrapping we are on the right path to getting better.”

For Cosby Clevinger led all scorers with 21 points while Searfoss had 17 to lead the Rangers.

Cosby (55)

C.Valentine 7, Hood 6, Phillips 5, Clevinger 21, Cody 2, Self 11, B.Valentine 3.

Unaka (39)

Searfoss 17, Lewis 11, Wright 5, Guinn 3. Overdorf 3.

Cosby     15  9 11 20 – 55

Unaka       8  9 11 11 – 39

3-point goals: C 0, U 2 (Searfoss 2).