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By C.Y. Peters

Star Correspondent

The Unaka Lady Rangers shook off a sluggish start and delivered a commanding performance Tuesday night, defeating the Johnson County Lady Longhorns 46-23.

The game began with a spark from Johnson County’s Izzy Thompson, who hit a three-pointer just seconds after tipoff. A quick turnover by the Lady Rangers gave the ball back to the Longhorns, prompting Unaka Coach Kenneth Chambers to call a timeout with only 20 seconds gone. Whatever was said in the huddle worked wonders, as the Lady Rangers came out energized and reeled off a 14-0 run, seizing control of the game.

Unaka’s blistering first quarter was fueled by their sharpshooting from beyond the arc. Michele Shields drained three triples, while Brooklyn Campbell added two of her own, giving the Lady Rangers a 20-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, Unaka had stretched their lead to 34-13, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Though the Lady Rangers struggled from the field overall, shooting just 16-of-46 (34.8%), their defensive intensity and perimeter shooting made the difference. Johnson County was limited to 9-of-39 (23%) from the floor and struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm.

Michele Shields led all scorers with an impressive 24 points, while Brooklyn Campbell’s early contributions helped set the tone for Unaka. For Johnson County, Izzy Thompson was the bright spot, finishing with 14 points.

“Once we settled in, the girls executed well,” said Coach Chambers. “I’m proud of the way we responded after that timeout.”

The Lady Rangers’ ability to bounce back quickly and dominate both ends of the floor demonstrated their readiness to compete at a high level. As they continue their season, performances like this will solidify their reputation as one of the toughest teams in the area.

Girls
Unaka 20 14 6 6 — 46
Jo. Co. 7 6 3 7 — 23