SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27-28, 2021 PAGE 19
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Kenneth Chambers Head Coach
2021-2022 Unaka Lady Rangers
Lady Rangers to rely on strength of returning starters in new campaign BY IVAN SANDERS STAR SPORTS EDITOR ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
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n a year where the Watauga Valley Conference has one of the strongest top four teams around in Cloudland, Hampton, North Greene, and Unaka, the Lady Rangers feel they will be just a step ahead with all five of their returning starters back and ready to take the court in a new season. Coach Kenneth Chambers also is blessed to have one of the top players in the state on his side in Lyndie Ramsey who is a two-time all-state selection having already scored over 1,200 points in her career as a Lady Ranger. “We have got some experience back,” said Chambers. “We have all of our starters back from last year. We have seniors in Julie Simerly, Macy Ensor, and KIki Forney to provide leadership. We have another senior but she has been sick but we should have her back soon.
“Then you have Lyndie Ramsey and Mailey Guy that have started for two years now so we have experience but are lacking in some depth. We have some young kids coming up in Haley Taylor, Abby Slemp, and some freshmen that will have to see some time. Callie Hardin and Alisha Harrell will probably see extensive playing time as well.” Currently the team is down a couple of players due to sickness and injury that see a lot of playing time for Chambers. And while Unaka may not be the tallest team around, they have one plus in the players know how to play. “We don’t have great size but they know what to do and play hard,” Chambers said. “They are good kids. I think the conference is going to be rough. Everybody in the conference is going to be good. I think that we have a good chance. “The key is to stay healthy and keep everybody healthy. If that happens, I think we will have a good shot. I believe the top four
teams in our conference are the top four in the region. The sub-state will come through two of our teams.” Chambers also is excited to see Ramsey in her junior year as she has become a wellrounded player during the off-season which will make it that much more difficult for teams that play the Lady Rangers. “That’s the big difference from last year to this year is the other girls have improved a lot over the summer. You can’t just rely on Lyndie because if I play against Lyndie last year, I would have put three people on her. Now, if you do that we have other girls that can score because they are good shooters and capable of scoring. That takes the pressure off her too,” Chambers said. “Lyndie has to let the game come to her. Her game has improved in rebounding and defense and because of that I believe she is a better all-around ball player.” The Unaka head coach also said that his plan is to not be tournament ready right off
the bat but to take each of the early-season games and improve on any weakness before the tournament kicks off. “We are not trying to push it right now. We are not trying to be tournament ready right now because we have a lot to work on. When we get through the tough schedule during the early part of the season and see what we need to work on, we will be pretty good come tournament time,” Chambers said.
