It was a rivalry renewed inside Sonny Smith Gymnasium, and it was the homesteading ‘Landers that came out with two crucial district wins.
The Lady ‘Landers captured a 61-60 overtime victory over Unaka on Tuesday night, while the Cloudland boys overcame a sluggish second quarter to take a 68-40 win.
In the varsity opener, it was a back-and-forth battle from the opening tip.
Unaka’s Hannah Tipton and Sierra Wright answered an Erin Julian basket. The teams traded points for the rest of the quarter as Parlier and Katlyn Burrow pushed the Lady Rangers to a 12-7 lead at the end of the frame.
In the second quarter, Cloudland used a 7-2 run – which was capped by four straight Shian Strickland points – to tie the game. After Unaka used another run with shots by Katlyn Weaver and Sydney Markland to surge ahead, but CHS took a 32-28 advantage at the break with points from Megan Lunsford and Strickland.
Cloudland opened the third quarter quickly with a 7-0 run, but Unaka trimmed the lead to four points heading to the final period. Over the next five minutes, the teams traded points and the lead. Cloudland pushed ahead with a Stacia Wilson free throw, but Tipton answered with a free throw of her own to force overtime.
In the extra period, Burrow opened the scoring, but Trinity Vines tied the game with just under two minutes to play. After Burrow added a free throw, Payton Johnson drained a shot inside the paint with 58 ticks left on the clock. Unaka’s Tipton pushed the Lady Rangers ahead, but Johnson answered with 33 seconds remaining. Julian hit the game winning free throw after Johnson was unable to shoot a foul shot with 2.3 seconds left on the clock.
Strickland and Lisa Ellis had 15 and 12 points, respectively for Cloudland, while Vines added nine points. Weaver led Unaka with 12 points. Tipton added 10 points for Unaka.
In the boys’ game, the ‘Landers came out firing with a 12-2 run out of the game. Chris Wagoner scored seven Cloudland points in the final minute of the quarter to take a 22-8 lead at the first quarter.
A John Ramsey trey sparked Unaka as they closed the gap to seven points. Joe Searfoss found a groove in the final minutes of the half as the Rangers scored nine points. Cloudland held a 33-26 lead at the half.
The ‘Landers found some breathing room in the second half as Preston Benfield and Wagoner countered points from Colton Chambers. CHS held a 48-38 lead at the end of the third quarter, and then opened the four quarter on a 20-0 run to end the game.
Benfield and Wagoner led Cloudland with 18 points apiece, while Colby Birchfield had 13 points. Searfoss had 16 points to lead Unaka. Kyler Lewis scored nine points.
Postgame Audio
Cloudland Girls’ Head Coach Lucas Andrews
Unaka Girls’ Head Coach Kenneth Chambers
Cloudland Boys’ Head Coach Gary Harrison
Photo Gallery
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