Dragons defeat Lumpkin to earn second region win

PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — After the battle that happened between two excellent girls teams, it was the boys turn to take the court as the Pickens Dragons hosted the Lumpkin Indians on Friday, December 16th. On Tuesday, December 13th, Pickens fell in tough fashion to the Dawson Tigers. The Indians, lost a home region game to Gilmer. Lumpkin, came in looking to snap a three game losing streak and also pick up their first region win. The Dragons, came in looking to stay near the top of the region with a win. Pickens, used a good team effort to pick up the 65-48 win.

 

To begin the first quarter, the Dragons picked up an early foul that sent Cal Faulkner to the line. Faulkner, made both free throws to give Lumpkin a 2-0 lead. Camden Dunn, tied it up with a layup. Clayton Woodham, split a pair of free throws to give the Indians a 3-2 lead. Pickens, then went on a 5-0 run as James Tilley hit a three and Dunn made a basket to give the  Dragons a 7-3 lead. A broken play paid off for Lumpkin as Cooper Scott got a wide open layup to cut the Pickens lead to 7-5. Pickens, then went on a 6-0 run as Tilley hit his second three of the quarter and Caleb Lanford hit his first three to make it 13-5.

Faulkner, picked up his first field goal of the game with a bucket to make it 13-7. McCord Purdy, answered with his first field goal to make it 15-7. Stephen Sherrill, made his first basket of the game to make it 15-9 Pickens after one quarter of play.

Dragons defending the Indians

After many fouls calls on both teams, Faulkner got the first points of the second quarter as he split a pair of free throws to make it 15-10. Isaiah Williams, got his first points of the ball game as he split free throw attempts to bring the Pickens lead to 16-10. After a Faulkner layup, The Dragons went on another 6-0 run as both Williams and Purdy hit a pair of threes. Woodham, stopped the run with a basket to make it 22-14 Dragons. Purdy, then went on a 5-0 run by himself to stretch the Pickens lead to 27-14. A bucket by Jack Carroll made it 27-16. Williams and Faulkner both split a pair of free throws to make it 28-17.

Faulkner followed it up with a basket to make it 28-19. Caleb Keith, got the final points of the first half and the Dragons took a 30-19 lead into the break.

Dragons with the ball

To begin the third quarter, Hunter Cooper and Faulkner split a pair of free throws to cut the Pickens lead to 30-21. Lanford, made it an 11 point game with a bucket and the Dragons now led, 32-21. As both teams kept trading baskets, Pickens maintained its moderate lead. Lumpkin, would cut it down to 7 at one point, but a 5-0 run by Tilley to close the quarter made it 44-32 Dragons.

 

Faulkner, began the fourth with a bucket to make it a 10 point game. Lanford and Williams, then combined for a 4-0 run to make it 48-34. The lead, would not get any lower than 11 during the fourth quarter as the Dragons kept the Indians at bay. Final score from Jasper, Pickens 65 Lumpkin 48.

 

Leading scorers for Pickens:

James Tilley: 14 points

Isaiah Williams: 13 points (10 rebounds)

Caleb Lanford: 13 points

McCord Purdy: 13 points

Caleb Keith: 6 points

Camden Dunn: 4 points

Seth Cronic: 2 points

 

The Dragons, will be back in action on Tuesday as they take part in a similar tournament that they took part in last season. The tournament, features North Murray, Southeast Whitfield, and Murray County. The tournament will take place from December 20th, 22nd, and 23rd. First up for Pickens, North Murray on Tuesday. Tip off is set for 8:30.

The year of the Quarterback in NwGa

Sports, TeamFYNSports

As Northwest Georgia gears up for The Friday Night lights this fall, one thing is quite clear with many Football fans in the area.

There’s a lot of great Quarterbacks this season.

Of the returning QB’s from last season, six of them threw for over 2000 yds with many coming close to that number.

This season could see double that.

This years group of QB’s could not only spell doom for many Schools passing records, they could also lead to the fall of many receiving records as well.

The abundance of great arms could be a huge boost to the guys with the great hands.

North Murray’s Jadyn Rice and Rome’s Martel Hight were the areas only 1000-yard receiver’s last season. They will be looking to repeat that feat this season and could also gain some company in the 1000-yard club.

Henderson to White, Brooker to Gray, and Pate to Bryant could become phrases you hear frequently this season.

Listed below are some of the Top returning QB’s from last season and a few looking for a breakout season this year. (In no particular order)

South PauldingKasen Wiseman (Sr) 2035 passing, 289 rushing, 25 total TD’s.
North MurraySeth Griffin (Sr) 2883 passing, 319 rushing, 32 total TD’s
RomeReece Fountain (Jr) 2312 passing, 64 rushing, 20 total TD’s.
SonoravilleJaxon Pate (Jr) 2193 passing, 658 rushing, 31 total TD’s.
Northwest WhitfieldOwen Brooker (Sr) 2902 passing, 624 rushing, 36 total TD’s
North PauldingBoone Anderson (Sr) 2080 passing, 179 rushing, 14 total TD’s
CassDevin Henderson (Jr) 1562 passing, 855 rushing, 25 TD’s
RockmartJD Davis (Jr) 958 passing, 507 rushing, 20 TD’s
CentralDevan Powell (Jr) 1461 passing, 459 rushing, 21 TD’s.
AdairsvilleJonathan Gough (Jr) 1244 passing, 283 rushing, 16 TD’s
HeritageKaden Swope (Sr) 1069 passing, 737 rushing, 18 TD’s
CalhounTrey Townsend (Jr) The talented Junior will move into the starting role and will look to take this team back to the title game.
DaltonParker McClurg (Sr) The 6’4” 200lb Senior has plenty of talent around him and will be looking to lead The Catamounts back to the Playoffs in the new Region 7-AAAAA
BowdenRobert McNeal (Sr) 1961 passing, 749 rushing, 31 TD’s
Coahulla CreekKace Kinnamon (Sr) 1532 passing, 317 rushing, 14 TD’s
Temple: Cam Vaughn (Sr) 1356 passing, 575 rushing, 14 TD’s
Pepperell: Matthew Waddell (Sr) 1394 passing, 300 rushing, 11 TD’s
Pickens: Sam Streicher (Jr) 1353 passing, 155 rushing, 14 TD’s
Trion: Kade Smith (So) 785 passing, 7 TD’s
Dade CountyBrody Cooper (Sr) 1342 passing, 324 rushing, 16 TD’s
Mt. Zion: Stanley Cross (JR) 862 passing, 11 TD’s
Armuchee: Chandler Desanto (Sr) Desanto will be looking to build off the success from his junior campaign that led the Indians to their first 5-win season in 10 years.
Murray CountyJudah Woodall (Jr) After a productive spring, Woodall will be looking to lead the Indians back into contention in the new 7-AA region.

Several Teams in the area are still looking to fill the Role of QB1. With only weeks remaining before the season kicks off, we’ll all know soon enough just who will be their 2022 Signal callers.

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