Rangers prevail in Bahamas tilt

from staff reports

   FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Even in the Bahamas, the Unaka High basketball team is all about taking care of business.
   The Rangers opened up play in the Basil Neymore Coca-Cola Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament on Wednesday by defeating Freeport-local Sunland High 65-53 at Jack Hayward High School.
   In an unprecedented getaway for its program, Unaka (1-2) trailed the bigger and quite athletic Sunland team 12-8 after the first quarter, but 10 second-quarter points from Cody Collins enabled the Rangers to pull into a 28-28 halftime tie.
   With Derek Cline, Collins and Tyler McCann knocking down key three-pointers in the third quarter, the Rangers were able to secure a three-point advantage (42-39) heading into the final eight minutes of play.
   Sunland pulled back within a deuce at 47-45, but 10 straight points from Rusty Chambers pushed Unaka to a 58-50 lead with two minutes remaining.
   Two buckets by Daniel McInturff off key passes from Chris Arnold punctuated the Ranger victory.
   Collins led the way for Unaka in the scoring department with 17 points, including four three-pointers. Chambers, who hit 9-of-10 free throws, followed with 16 points, while McInturff had a good game, filling the nets for 12 points.
   Cline tallied eight and McCann, coming off the bench, chipped in seven.