Jasper, Ga — On Thursday, January 28th, the Pickens Dragons (9-11, 6-4) welcomed the Southeast Whitfield Raiders (4-17, 1-10) to the Dragons Den for a big time 7-AAAA region game. Coming into the game, the Dragons were tied in the region standings with Northwest Whitfield for third. the Raiders, won their first region game of the season on Tuesday against Ridgeland. With this being the only region game of the day, a win by the Dragons would put them in third place all by themselves. In what may have been their most complete game of the season, Pickens came away with a 78-31 win over the Raiders.

In the first quarter, Southeast Whitfield got the games first bucket. Pickens, followed that with a 7-0 run aided by 4 points from Noah Sutton and three points from Tucker Lowe. The Dragons built up a 10 point lead at one time in the opening quarter. Pickens took a 19-11 lead over the Raiders going to the second.

Dragons with the ball early on

In the second quarter, the Dragons defense helped lead to plenty of offense as they scored 25 points in the quarter while allowing 11 points. Pickens, got scoring from 7 different players in the second quarter as they took a 44-22 lead over Southeast Whitfield into the half.

The Dragon defense was everywhere on Thursday

In the third quarter, the Dragons started off the second half with an 8-0 run. Lowe, Owen Moss, Luke Rogers, and Will Roland all scored during the run. The Raiders got a bucket to end the run, but that would be the only points they would score in the quarter. Pickens, went on a 12-0 run to end the third quarter as they stretched out their lead to 64-24 going to the fourth.

Collin Kellogg goes in for the layup

In the fourth quarter, the Dragons doubled up the Raiders, 14-7 in the frame to seal a much needed win, 78-31. 11 Dragons got their names in the score book on Thursday.

Dragons leading scorers:

Tucker Lowe: 22 points

Caleb Bryant: 10 points

Ean Goodwin: 8 points

Jaden Stewart: 8 points

Noah Sutton: 6 points

7-AAAA Boys Basketball Standings:

Heritage: 13-5 (9-1)

Cedartown: 8-8 (7-2)

Pickens: 9-11 (6-4)

Northwest Whitfield: 11-6 (5-4)

Central-Carroll: 13-8 (4-4)

Ridgeland: 5-11 (1-8)

Southeast Whitfield: 4-17 (1-10)

The Dragons, will be back in action on Tuesday as they host the Cedartown Bulldogs in another critical 7-AAAA region game. The Nettes and Lady Bulldogs will get things going at 6 pm and the Dragons and Bulldogs will follow.