Unaka Rangers and the 16 Remaining Class A Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Unaka High team</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only one team has bettered the Unaka Rangers since Christmas, the Hampton Bulldogs. While Hampton pummeled Unaka, 80-49 mid-February, Unaka found revenge in the District Championship Game winning 61-51. To make the State Tournament Unaka HS must win at Harriman High Monday night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It bothered our kids. It embarrassed them. It made them mad. Because we had not been punched like we got up there [at Hampton]. And we didn't respond real well. They were motivated because of the showing they had put out a week before. - Unaka HC Aaron Dugger on <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/morning-monster-podcast/unaka-boys-basketball-head-coach-aaron-dugger-interview-2-25-26">Morning Monster with Jacob Townsend</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rangers now aim their bows at returning to the Class A State Tournament for the first time in 21 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Unaka History</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament</strong> <strong>Record:</strong>&nbsp;3-4<br><strong>State Tournament Appearances (5):</strong>&nbsp;2005, 2004, 2002, 1988, 1985<br><strong>State Champions (1):</strong>&nbsp;2004</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year Unaka finished 18-10, losing to Cosby in the R1A Semifinal in Blountville, Tennessee. Notably, rivals Hampton crushed Unaka twice last season too. Just three years ago Unaka won a measly seven games! Under Head Coach Aaron Dugger Unaka won six games in February (2026) alone!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlier this season junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin']</strong> (Unaka) dropped 42 points on University High School. Just this last 10 days Hardin earned All-Conference, Conference MVP, District Tournament MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin'] defends out to 12' without fouling though his lateral mobility can be strained just a bit with quick wings and guards isolated against him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing Hampton in the District Tournament Championship Coach Dugger worked to get Hardin the ball in space, disallowing a quick double from Hampton High. Considering how potent Hardin is as a scorer expect this wrinkle to be worn into the fabric of his strategy for the next few weeks of hoops they hope to have left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unaka Rangers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3541298' first='Justius' last='Wallin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3541295' first='Zach' last='Wallin'] </strong>were both named All-District Tournament and All-Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wallins thrilled fans throughout their high school football careers too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">All District Tournament </span><br>Cooper Smith [player_tooltip player_id='3541295' first='Zach' last='Wallin'] [player_tooltip player_id='3541298' first='Justius' last='Wallin'] [player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin'] MVP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">All Conference</span><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3541295' first='Zach' last='Wallin'] Aiden Walsh [player_tooltip player_id='3541298' first='Justius' last='Wallin'] [player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin'] MVP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hampton Scouting Report</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton played solid team defense against Unaka Thursday night. They nudged <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin'] </strong>away from offensive rebounding position a decent amount. He was the big threat for Unaka to both score and rebound, so that helped Hampton quite a bit. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3544709' first='Colby' last='Clark']</strong> looks to be about 6-foot-5 and very thin wing...and upside rangy forward. Right now, he is only a medium priority as a scorer. His greatest contribution is the ability to really, really deny inbound passes. Hampton is able to play him as a second forward next to <strong>Bryce Fagan</strong>, so he can cheat just a bit on the defensive boards and dash out on the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colby likes to get to the paint and draw fouls. He is very, very thin as a tall freshman and he will need to grow into his body in the coming years. His free throws are pretty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All 16 Remaining Class A Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unaka @ Harriman<br>Oneida @ Hampton<br>Van Buren County @ Jackson County<br>Pickett County @ South Pittsburg<br>Booker T. Washington @ Humboldt<br>Lake County @ Middle College<br> @ Eagleville<br>Richland @ <br>Perry County<br>Wayne County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->