For the second straight year, the District 1-A Girls Tournament Championship is headed to Stoney Creek.
Unaka outlasted North Greene for a 56-51 victory in the District 1-A Championship game on Warrior Hill in a game that featured a 39-6 Lady Ranger run and a 24-3 Lady Huskies run. With the win, Unaka earns a bye in the Region 1-A tournament and will return to action in the semifinal round next Monday. North Greene will host Hancock County in the opening round on Friday evening.
Kalli Shepard opened the scoring for Unaka as the senior answered points from North Greene’s Tralyn Southerland as the Rangers held a 6-5 lead nearing the midpoint of the first quarter.
The Lady Huskies got things clicking midway in the third. Southerland and Eva Leonard hit key shots as North Greene reeled off 12 straight points before Emma Whitaker knocked down a trey to close the Unaka deficit to 17-9 after a quarter of play.
North Greene continued to have the momentum in the opening minutes of the second with 12 straight points to cap a 24-3 run. Unaka snapped the run with a free throw from Brooklyn Campbell, and Shepard hit back-to-back 3-pointers. That sparked a 13-2 Unaka run to end the half as Unaka pulled with 31-24 at the break.
The Lady Rangers came out of the gate firing in the second half.
Shepard drained a 3-pointer to get the scoring started, and Unaka outscored NG 21-4 in the third quarter – including eight points from Michelle Shields.
Shields hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter to cap the 39-6 run before Southerland went back to work for North Greene. The Lady Huskies used a quick 12-2 run to pull within three points, but Unaka was able to secure the win at the free-throw line.
Shields, who was named the District 1-A Tournament MVP, and Shepard led Unaka with 15 points. Emma Whitaker added 10 points.
Brooklyn Campbell finished with nine points.
Whitaker, Campbell, and Shepard joined Shields on the All-Tournament team.
Southerland led North Greene with 22 points.