The final game of the Pickens Holiday Classic at Pickens County High School featured a down to the wire affair between the host Dragons, and the Creekview Grizzlies. The visitors walked away with a 55-54 win after Dylan Bergman, whose winning bucket was the last of his game high, 20 points. The Dragons’ Austin Murphy, who finished with 14 points, missed a potential game winning half-court shot.The game was back and forth throughout. The Grizzlies began the game on a 9-4 run; however, the Dragons fought back. The game was tied 14-14 with 1:12 left in the first. Creekview led by two, 16-14, at the end of the first.

Spencer Jones Looking for the Ball
(Photo by LT Melton)

The second quarter began much like the first, with the Grizzlies on a 6-2 run, which led to the boisterous Creekview contingent in the stands to begin a series of playful taunts aimed at the Dragons and the Pickens student section. The Dragons refused to back down, digging into the lead repeatedly; however, they went into the half down 31-24.

The second half featured another Creekview run. The Grizzlies led by as much as 11 in the third, and 13 in the fourth before the Dragons mounted another comeback, behind 18 points from Spencer Jones.

The Dragons were down by 13, 47-34, with seven minutes left in the game. Back to back threes by Austin Murphy cut the lead to seven 47-40. Those two threes were the first six points of a 17-3 run by Pickens that gave them a 51-50 lead with five minutes left in the game. The lead was short lived as both teams continued to trade leads for the rest of the game.

Jordan Shaw on Defense
(Photo by LT Melton)

A day after just missing a triple double, Jordan Shaw picked up his 10th assist on a basket by Austin Murphy which gave the Dragons a 55-54 lead with 18.4 seconds left. Bergman then hit the game winner. The Dragons’ Austin Murphy, who finished with 14 points, missed a potential game winning half-court shot.