The annual ETC Tipoff Tournament held at Fannin High School kicked off on Saturday with games involving the boy’s and girl’s varsity basketball teams from Fannin, Gilmer, Copper Basin, and Pickens. The first game of the afternoon pitted the Pickens Dragonnettes against the Gilmer Lady Bobcats. The Nettes got going from outside the arch early, as Kadie Mullinax hit three three-pointers early in a first quarter that saw Pickens lead 14-7. Gilmer was able to keep up with Pickens in the second quarter, but a steal and a buzzer-beater by junior Makayla Angel gave the Dragonnettes a 22-17 advantage at the half and set the tone for the rest of the game. Pickens would win the game by a final score of 40-32.

Sophomore Sarah Smith maintained the dominating presence she has had so far this season, leading the Nettes in scoring with eleven points. Makayla Angel led the team with five rebounds.

Dragonettes Huddled Up
(Photo by Cheryl Duncan)

Following the girl’s game was the boy’s game, a matchup between two very strong teams that have hopes of going to state and legitimately making some noise. The absence of senior Wesley Easterwood, who was out due to a broken hand, has clearly left this team searching for someone to step up in his place, as Pickens quickly fell behind a Bobcats group that showed up ready to play. This game was successfully summed up by a single play in the second quarter, as a dunk by an UFB (Unidentified Flying Bobcat) added two more points to Gilmer’s lead and left the Dragons’ players shaking their heads and wondering how they had allowed themselves to be outplayed.

When it was all said and done, the Bobcats had won the game by a score of 50-35. Senior Spencer Jones led the Dragons in scoring with nineteen points, and senior Austin Murphy led the team with an impressive mark of twelve rebounds.

The Dragons and Dragonnettes will take on Copper Basin today.
Article by Jordan Hill