The Jasper Middle School and Pickens County Middle School Dragons opened up the 2011-2012 season by facing each other in four exciting games, all played at the JMS gym. The first game on the docket featured the 6th and 7th grade JMS Dragonettes against the 6th and 7th grade PCMS Dragonettes, which ultimately came down to the wire. Missed foul shots late proved too much for the home Nettes to overcome, and a key rebound late sealed a 26-21 win for PCMS over its cross-town rivals.

JMS returned the favor in the 7th grade boys’ game in what turned out to be the most lopsided match up of the evening, as the home Dragons started off hot and never slowed down, besting PCMS by a score of 41-17.

Jasper Middle Vs. Pickens County Middle
(Photo by Jordan Hill)

The 8th grade girls’ showdown rivaled the one between the 6th and 7th grade teams, as the outcome was far from decided until the final buzzer sounded. Scoring was a premium in the first half of play, as good defense led to a 7-2 lead for JMS at halftime. JMS maintained its comfortable lead coming out of the locker room, leading 14-8 at the end of the penultimate quarter of play, but PCMS got hot at exactly the right time, culminating in a thrilling finish. When it was all said and done, JMS inched out a 19-17 win over PCMS.

The final game of the night, featuring the 8th grade JMS boys against the 8th grade PCMS boys, saw more scoring than in both girls’ games combined, as it was quickly made clear that both squads were quite formidable. PCMS made plenty of shots in this one, but it just wasn’t enough to keep up with JMS, as the Dragons came away with a hard-fought 54-36 win, giving JMS a 3-1 record against the team that, the majority of fans believe, is the most important team on the schedule all season.

JMS’s next games come against the Fannin Rebels, as the boys’ teams travel to Blue Ridge and the girls’ teams welcome the Lady Rebels to the JMS gym. Meanwhile, PCMS faces off with Dawson, with the boy’s game at PCMS and the girl’s in Dawsonville.