Pickens Outlasts Cedertown

The Pickens County Dragons hosted the Bulldogs of Cedartown High School, and survived with a 10 point 59-49 victory. The victory came on “Senior Night,” the last home game of the season. It was also “Breast Cancer Awareness Night.” Ten percent of the concession stand profit was donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.The Bulldogs scored first, but the Dragons responded quickly with a three pointer by Austin Murphy. Pickens’ next two baskets were also threes. With the score tied at nine a piece, Wesley Easterwood broke the tie in Pickens’ favor with a reverse lay up. The first quarter ended with home team up by three at 13-10.

The Bulldogs’ zone defense made things difficult in the paint for the Dragons. This allowed Cedertown to take a three point lead, 20-17, with 3:40 left in the first half. However, the Dragons used a 7-0 run to finish the half and take a 24-20 lead into halftime.

The Dragons came out in the second half with a zone defense that frustrated the visitors and created more shot opportunities for the home team. Pickens out-rebounded Cedartown 29-16 in the game. The Dragons increased the half time lead to 41-32 at the end of the third quarter.

Pickens continued the defensive pressure via the zone, making outcasts of Bulldogs in the paint. Cedartown was “colder than a polar bear’s toe nails” from the outside and couldn’t get closer than nine throughout the game. Senior Jordan Shaw led all scorers with 21 points. He also contributed eight rebounds and four assists.