It was a cross-county get together on Tuesday night on Stoney Creek. Happy Valley made sure to make themselves at home.
The Warriors and Lady Warriors picked up non conference wins over the Rangers with the Lady Warriors pulling away for a 48-32 win, while Happy Valley battled back from a Unaka rally to take a 66-61 victory in the boys game.
The nightcap saw Happy Valley hold on for the win. In the first quarter, the Warriors limited Unaka without a field goal and Josh Hammonds scored five points to power HV to a 12-6 lead at the end of the frame. The Warriors continued to have the hot hand shooting as Sam Blevins and Hammonds added five points to take a 33-21 lead into the locker room at the half. The Rangers went 9-of-10 from the free throw line during the second quarter.
HV extended the lead to open the third quarter, but the Rangers wouldn’t go quietly.
Joe Searfoss had 10 points in the third quarter to power the Unaka run that tied the game, and the Rangers trailed by two points entering the final quarter.
Austin Hicks, however, took control in the fourth quarter for the Warriors as he tallied 11 points as Happy Valley held on for the win.
Hammonds finished with 18 points to pace Happy Valley, and Hicks finished with 15 points. Dillion Barlow and Tyler Torbett had eight and seven points, respectively.
Searfoss had 20 points to lead all scorers. Colton Chambers and Kyler Lewis had 15 and 13 points, respectively. Dylan Carrier also added 13 points for the Rangers.
In the girls’ game, the Lady Rangers held the upper hand early, but the Lady Warriors battled back for the 48-32 victory. Unaka’s Hannah Tipton set the tone early with 10 points in the first quarter as the Lady Rangers held a 14-13 advantage at the end of the frame. Kalee Johnson countered in the second quarter with eight points for Happy Valley to push the Lady Warriors to a 25-22 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the Happy Valley defense rose to the occasion by limiting Unaka to just four points. Six Lady Warriors found the scorebook to extend the HV lead, and Johnson added three baskets in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Johnson finished with a game high 24 points for Happy Valley, while Tipton led Unaka with 17 points. Sierra Wright had seven points for the Lady Rangers. Kenzie Davis and Kaitlyn Roberts had five points apiece for Happy Valley.
