Dragons Lose Nail Biter

The Pickens County Dragons hosted the Allatoona High School Buccaneers basketball team on a night when the Youth Recreational teams were honored and recognized. The home team came up about as short as most of the Rec. league players’ heights, losing 39-35 despite a game high 16 points from Wesley Easterwood.The game was a back and forth affair throughout. Both teams traded runs like Olympic relay runners. The Dragons drew first blood and quickly built up a 7-4 lead. However, the Buccaneers cut the lead to one, (7-6) but ended the quarter down four (12-8).

The second quarter began with the home team sticking to a zone defense that was continuously frustrating the visitors, who tried to force the ball into the paint regardless. As a result, Pickens went on a 7-2 run to lead 17-10 with just under two and a half minutes left in the half. Allatoona responded with an 8-4 run that closed the half with Pickens up 21-18.

The Buccaneers opened the second half with a 6-0 run that put them up 24-21. The Dragons fought back and tied the game at 25-25, but finished down four (31-27) at the end of the quarter. The Buccaneers literally held the ball for the last 40 seconds of the quarter, which brought the ire of both the home and visiting fans, both of whom let their displeasure be heard.

The Buccaneers continued their 2001 Baltimore Ravens-style ball holding, so the Dragons switched from the zone to a half court trap. Neither team scored more than eight points in the quarter as the visitors held on for the four point victory. Allatoona freshman, Daniel Fowler had the game’s lone double double as he finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.