Nettes Lose Heart Breaker In Opening Tournament Game

Yesterday, the Pickens Nettes varsity basketball team traveled to Ellijay to take on the Fannin County Lady Rebels in the annual Thanksgiving tournament hosted this year at Gilmer High School. The Nettes were in the opening game of the round robin tournament acting as the home team and looked to start off with a win over the Lady Rebels. The fans that traveled from Fannin and Pickens were treated to what turned out to be a thriller.

Both teams would start off the ball game slow as turnovers would play a major factor in the 1st quarter. The back and forth play led to the Lady Rebels coming away with a 14-10 lead after one. It would be more of the same in the 2nd quarter as Fannin would outscore the Nettes 11-9 to take a 25-19 lead into halftime.

The Lady Rebels stretched their lead to 9 in the 3rd quarter to 42-33 heading to the 4th and final quarter. The Nettes battled their way back in the ball game and found themselves down 52-50 with 6 seconds left and senior Haley Kalson at the line to tie it up. Kalson would have ice in her veins as she calmly drained both free throws to tie things up at 52. With fans bracing for overtime, the Lady Rebels would have other ideas as a desperation three pointer heaved with 3 seconds left would find its mark giving Fannin the 55-52 win.

Leading the way for the Nettes would be:

Haley Kalson: 17 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds

MaKayla Payne: 13 points and 1 assist

Ashley Nelson: 10 points and 1 rebound

Mackenzie Hampton: 7 points and 4 rebounds

The Nettes now will get ready for the Lady Cougars of Copper Basin (TN) on Monday afternoon. The tip off is scheduled for 3:00