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Highlanders squeak past Rangers

By Jamie Combs

Close games with Cloudland were pretty common back during Unaka’s state tournament days, but the tide has turned over the past seven years.
During that span the Highlanders have made the state tournament five times, but this year the two teams appear to be even-steven.
Such was the case with their game on Tuesday, which proved to be tighter than a mosquito’s butt on a downward plunge. Cloudland eeked out a 68-67 win inside of Sonny Smith Gymnasium after the Rangers had battled back from a 12-point deficit.
Highlanders head coach Brandon Carpenter wasn’t fully pleased with his team’s play over the 32-minute span.