Last night, Friday, Dec. 13, after seeing both the Pickens junior varsity teams pick up impressive wins, the varsity Dragonettes took the floor against the Lafayette knowing it would be a tough challenge.

Pickens and Lafayette came in with identical 5-2 overall records.

Pickens came in with a game advantage over the Lady Ramblers in the region standings.

Pickens started off the first quarter quickly with a 3-pointer on their opening possession.

From there it was back and forth. The ‘Nettes held a six-point lead late in the opening frame, but the Lady Ramblers went on a 4-0 run to cut the Pickens lead to 19-17 at the end of the period.

In the second quarter, Pickens increased the lead on the Lady Ramblers. The lead grew to 13 at one point for the ‘Nettes, who were clicking on both sides of the ball.

Lafayette, much like they did in the first quarter, made a 5-2 run to end the half and the ‘Nettes went into the break up 41-33.

The game got tight in the third quarter.

The Lady Ramblers went on a 6-0 run to begin the half and cut the ‘Nettes lead down to two before Marlee McClure hit a free throw to put the lead at 42-39.

Lafayette used a 4-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 43-42, but a Reagan Harwood 3-pointer gave Pickens the lead right back at 45-43. The two teams remained close for the rest of the quarter as the ‘Nettes took a 52-51 lead going to the fourth.

After Lafayette made a bucket to go ahead 53-52, the ‘Nettes went on a 7-0 run with help from free throws by Mykenzie Weaver and McClure, and a made basket from Cassidy Richards to go up 59-53.

The Lady Ramblers went on a 5-0 run to cut it to 59-58. A 9-0 run from Pickens capped by a made basket by Sarah Morris, a 3-pointer from Richards, and made shots from Carmyn Mullins and Weaver, gave the ‘Nettes a 68-58 lead.

After another 5-0 run by Lafayette, Richards stepped up and hit another 3-pointer to seal it at 72-63.

Weaver finished the night with 19 points, followed by Richards with 13, Morris and Mullins with nine, Hillhouse with eight, and Harwood with seven.

The ‘Nettes play again Saturday, Dec. 14, when they host Gordon Central in non-region action. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m. in Jasper.