Dragons drop non-region game to Phoenix

Jasper, Ga — Coming into their game against the 5-0 Sonoraville Phoenix on Friday, December 9th, the Pickens Dragons were off to a 3-1 start. Those three wins were against Fannin, Copper Basin, and most recently, Gilmer on Tuesday night. While the Dragons fought the entire game, a 19 point halftime deficit was too much to overcome as the Phoenix came away with the 71-56 win.

 

The Dragons, opened up with the first points of the ball game as Isaiah Williams made a layup to make it 2-0. Sonoraville tied it, with a Bryson Shellnutt bucket. Camden Dunn got the lead back for Pickens with a layup to make it 4-2 early. The Phoenix, then went on an 8-0 run getting a three by Blake Cole, a bucket and a free throw make from Shellnutt, and a bucket from Donovan McDaniel to make it 10-4. Dunn stopped the Sonoraville run with a basket to make it 10-6. The Phoenix went on a mini 4-0 run getting buckets from Jaxson Pate and Shellnutt to make it 14-6. Jaden Stewart got his first points of the night to make it 14-8. For the rest of the first it was 3-2 in favor of Sonoraville as they took a 17-10 lead into the second.

Freshman Mccord Purdy opened the scoring in the second quarter as he cut the Phoenix lead down to 5. Sonoraville, then went on a 7-0 run as Jordyn Stoney hit two free throws and a three pointer. Pate concluded the run with a bucket to make it 24-12. Kadyn Hampton, split a pair of free throws, but stayed with the ball and got a layup out of it to cut the lead down to 24-15. Purdy followed it up with a three pointer to make it 24-18. After McDaniel picked up 4 quick points, Caleb Lanford got a bucket to make it 29-20.

The Phoenix, then went on an 8-0 run to stretch their lead out to 37-20. Lanford again ended a Sonoraville run with a bucket to make it 37-22. Another 7-0 run by the Phoenix made it 44-22. Lanford hit a three just before the buzzer to make it 44-25 Sonoraville at the half.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camden Dunn opened up the second half with a three pointer to make it 44-28. Stoney answered with a three of his own making it 47-28. Dunn, not to be outdone, hit another three that started a nice run for the Dragons. Stewart and Williams both made buckets and James Tilley hit a three. All told it was a 10-0 run making it 47-38 Sonoraville. McDaniel, hit a pair of free throws to make it 49-38. Stewart hit a three to make it 49-41. The two teams then traded baskets and it was 51-43. A bucket by Pate got the Phoenix lead back to double digits at 53-43. Both teams then traded free throws, and it  would be 54-45. Hampton the made a basket to cut the lead down to 54-47. McDaniel hit a pair of free throws to make it 56-47 Sonoraville going to the fourth.

The Phoenix got things started in the fourth with a three pointer by Ethan Hibberts. Purdy answered with a three of his own to make it 59-50. Sonoraville then got a pair of threes from McDaniel and Stoney to stretch their lead out to 65-50. After a bucket by Lanford, the Phoenix again hit a pair of three pointers to make it 71-52. Purdy and Stewart picked up the final four points for the Dragons as Sonoraville got the win, 71-56.

 

Dragons leading scorers:

Camden Dunn: 12 points

Jaden Stewart: 11 points

McCord Purdy: 10 points

Caleb Lanford: 9 points

Kadyn Hampton: 7 points

Isaiah Williams: 4 points

James Tilley: 3 points

 

The Dragons, will be right back at it on Saturday, December 10th as they head to Tunnel Hill to take on the Northwest Whitfield Bruins in another non-region contest. Tip off is set for 4:30 pm.