DISTRICT 1-AA GIRLS TOURNAMENT Up in smoke… Lady Warriors send Unicoi Co. packing with 54-36 win
Published 11:48 pm Thursday, February 20, 2020
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Warrior Emma Blevins lines up a trey in front of the Unicoi County bench.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Emily Lunceford battles for a tough score in the Lady Warriors win over Unicoi County.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Warrior Kenzie Ramey blows past a pair of Lady Blue Devil defenders on her way to the basket.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Warrior Olivia Absher drivers to the basket for two points in Happy Valley's win over Unicoi Co.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Happy Valley's Jaiden Clark goes up for a tough shot over Unicoi County's Caroline Podvin.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
BLUFF CITY – In a game where it was win or go home for the season, the Happy Valley Lady Warriors managed to avenge two regular-season losses to the Unicoi County Lady Blue Devils with a 54-36 victory.
The win sent Happy Valley to Thursday night’s contest opposite cross-town foe Elizabethton as the District 1-AA tournament continued at Sullivan East High School.
With the way the game opened in the first quarter, it appeared the game was going to turn into an offensive showdown as the Lady Blue Devils took early control after one period of action, 15-10.
However, things quickly turned south for the Lady Blue Devils in the second stanza as Coach Thomas Gouge’s Lady Warriors turned the tide back in their direction with an 11-3 period to take a 21-18 lead to the locker room.
Holly Moore was the Energizer Bunny for Happy Valley in the half as the sophomore point guard knocked down seven points.
More importantly, Moore was able to handle the Lady Devil press to perfection moving the ball into the frontcourt to start the Lady Warrior offense.
Emma Blevins and Kadie Bailey also had big treys in the half to stake the Lady Warriors to the halftime advantage.
Ashton Vance was about the only offense the Lady Blue Devils had in the first 16 minutes hitting for 10 of her team’s 18 points.
With Happy Valley keeping a very active 2-3 zone when things turned in the second period and carrying the defensive effort into the second half, Unicoi County had to be satisfied with several long-range shots that were off target.
The Lady Warriors held Unicoi County to only 18 second-half points total while sealing the win with 33 of their own to pull away.
Moore led the Lady Warriors with 14 points in the contest while Shalyn Whitson finished with 12 points with all but two coming in the second half.
Olivia Absher contributed seven points to the win while Blevins, Bailey, and Jaiden Clark chipped in six points apiece.
Emily Lunceford scored two points with Kenzie Ramey adding a free throw.
For the Lady Blue Devils, Tenley Holt led her team with 11 points while Vance finished with 10.
“I think we defended well in our zone and got out on the shooters,” said Gouge after the contest.
“We slowed them down and controlled the tempo and played the style we wanted to play. I have said all year we can beat anybody but we have lost a lot of heartbreakers.”
Gouge had plenty of good things to say about the play of Moore who has come into her own this season.
“She played great. Holly Moore has come a long way since last year. She has put about 10 pounds of muscle on and she plays her butt off,” Gouge stated.
