Yesterday, the PHS Dragons varsity basketball team traveled to Southeast Whitfield looking to do something practically unheard of: win two games in one day to make it to the state tournament.

Due to the snow storm, Games were pushed back two days. Forcing four boys teams, (Pickens, Gilmer, Ridgeland, & LaFayette), the challenge of possibly playing two games in one day. For Pickens to get to that second game, they had to get past a familiar foe, the Gilmer Bobcats.

In the opening quarter, Pickens struggled getting things going as Gilmer raced out to an eight-point lead going to the second, 20-12. In the second quarter, the Dragons were able to outscore the Bobcats 14-10. Gilmer still held a 30-26 lead heading into halftime.

In the third, Pickens turned the intensity up on offense and defense. The Dragons outscored the Bobcats in the quarter, 14-5, to take a 40-35 lead going to the fourth and final quarter. In the fourth, both teams went back and forth trading bucket after bucket, Pickens was able to hold off Gilmer late, and come away with the win, 62-55. With that win, the Dragons now had to focus on their next opponent, the #4 seed in the tournament, and host school, Southeast Whitfield.

Leading the way for the Dragons were:

Tyler Garner: 16 points, three assists, 12 rebounds and four steals

Holden Roop: 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals

Trent Rizoti: 12 points, one assist, eight rebounds and one steal

Blake Gorth: Eight points, two rebounds and one steal

Avery Luke: Four points, three rebounds and two steals

Walker Lawrence: Four points and one steal

Sam Davis: Two points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block