BLOUNTVILLE - The North Greene boy suffered another setback on Tuesday night with a 68-56 loss to Unaka in the consolation game of the District 1-1A Tournament.
“We just didn’t play well enough to win,” North Greene Head Coach Sam Tarlton said. “There’s not really much coaching I can do for 17 turnovers and I think Coach Glover had 43 to 22 on the boards. Until we take care of the ball and rebound the ball, we’re not going to win.”
Unaka bested North Greene for the second time this season after both teams split the home-and-away season series. The Huskies finished fourth overall in the district.
Landon Ramsey powered the Rangers offense with a 25-point effort in the win. Jason Britton had another great outing scoring a game-high 27 points to lead all scorers. He would end up being North Greene’s only double-digit scorer of the game.
“If the others step up and score double figures and we guard and rebound, we can play with anybody around here in Class 1A. When we don’t, we’re not very good,” Tarlton mentioned.
After both teams came up empty on their first possessions, Johnny Douglas and Luca May knocked down a three-pointer on opposite ends to get things going. Both teams went bucket-for-bucket again with Marcus Shoemaker and Bennett McLain putting up layups in the post.
Britton scored nine-straight points for the Huskies to help them pull away to 14-10 midway through the first.
Ramsey grabbed a long offensive rebound and continued charging towards the basket for a second chance layup.
Lance Carrico spotted up for a short jumper from the block in transition with an assist for Britton.
Ramsey helped Unaka close the gap to only three points at the end of the first quarter with a five-point run. A layup under the basket and a three-point bucket from beyond the perimeter helped bring them within one possession.
North Greene led 20-17 through one quarter.
The Huskies started hot in the second quarter. Sam English ran the ball up court in transition and dished out a quick pass to Tyler Britton along the three-point line for a triple. English racked up another assist with a feed pass down low to McLain for a layup in the post. Unaka would call a timeout after both quick buckets put them behind 25-17.
Logan Lewis broke the dry spell for the Rangers with a trey in the corner halfway through the quarter. Then Britton sent the ball streaking through the net from beyond the three-point line for a triple in transition for North Greene.
The Huskies held the Rangers to only six points in the second quarter with solid defense and gained a 31-23 lead heading into the half.
Unaka came out of the break and immediately fired away with a triple from Mason Wilson. Ramsey laid the ball up in transition to complete a 5-0 run to start the half.
Johnny Douglas then splashed another three-point bucket and Ramsey’s offensive put back gave Unaka a 34-33 lead in the third. Another three-pointer from the hands of Ramsey boosted that lead to four points.
Tim Humburger provided a quick bucket with a short hook shot in front of the rim for the Huskies. Britton then split the ball between two defenders with a bounce-pass assist to Sam English.
Brayden Powell muscled his way to a basket in the post. Unaka's Joe-Z Blamo had been ice cold from the field so far in the contest, but got a short leaner to fall over May right before the buzzer sounded to put the Rangers up 47-41 at the end of the third.
Blamo started the fourth quarter with a layup on the glass.
The Huskies made a run at the start of the fourth to cut their deficit to only two points. Britton and English both drained a three-pointer and Carrico sank a jumper from the free throw line.
Joe-Z Blamo waited all game to make his statement and decided to take control of the contest with nine points in the final frame. The paint was friendly to him in the fourth with a euro-step layup and an and-one play to strengthen Unaka’s lead. Another bucket from Blamo put the Rangers ahead 60-49 and gave them their first double-digit lead of the night.
Mason Wilson and Jason Britton canceled each other out with a triple on both ends of the hardwood.
Marcus Shoemaker signaled for the end with an offensive put back at the hoop with 1:28 left to seal the game.
Unaka would run away with a 68-56 win in the third-place consolation game of the District 1-1A Tournament.
Ramsey scored 25 points in the victory to lead the Rangers. Blamo and Shoemaker each added 13 points apiece.
Britton scored a game-high 27 points for North Greene. Following the championship matchup, Britton was awarded with Co-Player of the Year alongside Hampton’s Caden Buckles. He earned All-Tournament honors with Bennett McLain being selected too.
The Huskies will hit the road for the first round of regionals action on Saturday night. They will meet with Jellico at 7 p.m. in a win-or-go-home scenario.
Coach Tarlton expressed, “Anytime you go on the road it’s tough. There’s only been one year that we’ve gone on the road since I’ve been here in six years. I think my third year we played against a really good Jellico team and lost. Then when we’ve been at home we’ve won. So, obviously it’s tough.”
