No Horsing Around by North Hall Lady Trojans: Dragonettes First Round Fire Doused

The Pickens High School Dragonettes basketball team traveled to North Hall High School to take on the Lady Trojans in the first round match up of the state playoffs. The Lady Trojans emerged victorious, winning 51-41. The Dragonettes struggled to score throughout the game, aided by a combination of the Lady Trojans full game full court press, and a plethora of Pickens’ own missed shots.The Lady Trojans opened the game with an 8-0 run that saw the Dragonettes get hot under the collar early. Kristen Garner ended the “Nettes” drought with the first Pickens bucket, on an assist from Makayla Angel.

North Hall answered with a three, the third one of the quarter, to make the score 11-2 with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. Another three from North Hall saw the Dragonettes down 14-2 with three minutes left in the fourth. Danielle Goss’s three, off an assist from Haley Kalson, cut the lead to 14-5.

Goss hit another three that made the score 16-8, with just under one minute left in the first. Kadie Mullinax’s buzzer beating three ended the quarter with the Dragonettes down 18-11.

The Dragonettes inability to score was especially on display in the second quarter, as Pickens picked up two points in the entire quarter, Kristen Gardner’s put back just before the quarter ended. North Hall, conversely, scored 10 points in the second. The Lady Trojans led 28-13 at halftime.

The Dragonettes’ scoring struggles of the first half, especially the two point second quarter, was to be especially costly in the second half, as Pickens picking up of the pace proved to be too little too late. The Dragonettes outscored the Lady Trojans 28-23 in the second half; however, the 15 point half time deficit proved to be too much to overcome.

Pickens’ Sarah Smith opened the scoring in the second half with a short jumper that was assisted by Garner. North Hall answered immediately with a three. Mullinax basket cut the lead to 31-19 with 4:47 left in the third. Kalson assisted Mullinax on a three that cut the lead to 35-22 with 2:21 left in the third. The Dragonettes trailed by 13, 39-26, going into the fourth.

Despite being in the bonus just 46 seconds into the fourth, Pickens was unable to pick up the win and fell to North Hall 51-41. Danielle Goss led the Dragonettes with 14 points Sarah Smith followed was next with 10. The other Dragonettes to score were: Kadie Mullinax (8); Kristen Garner (4); Haley Kalson (3); and Makayla Angel (2).