Hampton hit the gas, and Unaka was unable to answer.
The Bulldogs used a pair of runs to take a 77-41 victory in the District 1-A semifinals over the Rangers on Friday night at West Ridge High School.
With the win, Hampton moves into Tuesday’s Championship game against the winner of the University High and North Greene semifinal, while the Rangers will move into the Tuesday consolation against the loser.
The win also secures a home game in the Region 1-A Quarterfinals for the Bulldogs, while Unaka will have to travel for their Quarterfinal contest.
On Friday night, Hampton jumped out early.
Michael Anspaugh and Hayden Campbell hit buckets as Hampton scored the first eight points. Landon Ramsey stopped the run for the Rangers as he scored 11 out of the next 18 points, but Cadon Buckles hit a pair of back-to-back shots to take a 19-11 advantage into the second quarter.
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a 15-3 run. After Ramsey hit shots for Unaka to snap the run, Campbell and Buckles answered as Hampton held a 43-19 advantage at the half.
Mason Wilson opened the third quarter with an Unaka 3-pointer, and that sparked a 10-2 run that included shots from Joe-Z Blamo and Ramsey.
Hampton, however, responded with a run of their own as Levi Lyons and Buckles hit back-to-back shots to jumpstart a 22-3 Hampton run.
Buckles, a Class A Mr. Basketball finalist, ended the night with 36 points. Anspaugh had 13 points, while Geno Carrico had nine points.
Lyons and Campbell ended the game with eight points apiece.
Ramsey led Unaka with 25 points, while Wilson finished with six points.
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