Jasper, Ga — After coming away with a win against their biggest rial on Tuesday to begin 7-AAA play, the Pickens Dragonettes welcomed the Sonoraville Lady Phoenix to the Dragons Den on Friday, December 9th for what was set up as a really good non-region contest. Both teams, came into the game with identical 6-0 records. Pickens, led throughout the game and came away with a hard fought 51-41 win.

The Nettes got the scoring going in the first quarter as Caroline Mullins hit a mid-range jumper to make it 2-0. Sonoraville responded as Diana Smith was able to grab a couple of offensive rebounds and make back to back baskets to give the Lady Phoenix their first lead of the game at 4-2. After a foul by each team, Mullins hit a pair of free throws to tie things up at 4. Bella Hopkins, turned defense into offense as she picked up the steal, then drove down the court for the layup to make it 6-4 Pickens.

Madison Powell added to the lead with a corner three to make it 9-4. The Lady Phoenix, then went on a 9-0 run sparked by Erin Garland, who scored 6 of the 9 points during the run. Hopkins ended the run with a mid-range shot to make it 13-11 Sonoraville. Just before the end of the quarter, Ellison Steinhauer was fouled on a three point attempt. The freshman calmly knocked down all three free throws to give the Nettes a 14-13 lead going to the second.

Nettes on offense early on

Steinhauer, began the second quarter with a three pointer to make it 17-13 Pickens. After Ella kate Walraven answered with a three of her own, Steinhauer, drove in the paint a few steps and hit a mid-range bucket to make it 19-16. Hopkins then added to the lead as she split a pair of free throws to make it 20-16. The Lady Phoenix, responded with a 6-0 run getting buckets from Smith, Garland, and Camden Steely to make it 22-20 Sonoraville. The Nettes countered with a 6-0 run of their own as Emma Gleason, Brylee Deering, and Steinhauer combined to give Pickens a 26-22 lead at the break.

Nettes working on defense

Sonoraville got on the board first to start the second half as Brynley Walraven made a bucket to make it a two point game. The Nettes then went on a 5-0 run as Mullins made a shot just inside the free throw line and Streinhauer hit a three to make it 31-24. After a couple of fouls by both teams, Brynley Walraven hit a three to make it 31-27. From then on it was all Pickens as the Nettes went on a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter. Mullins, scored 7 of the 9 points during the run with Gleason making a layup in-between. Going to the fourth, it was 40-27 Nettes.

Nettes working the ball in the third

Garland and Ella kate Walraven got things going for the Lady Phoenix in the fourth with a combined 5-0 run to make it 40-32 Nettes. Mullins and Ella kate Walraven then traded buckets and the score was now 44-34. Taylor West then split a pair of free throws making it 44-35 Pickens. Gleason, went on a 4-0 run by herself to make it 48-35. After Kayleigh Kelley hit a pair of free throws, Hopkins hit a three to make it 51-37. Kelley, would get the final four points of the night for Sonoraville as she again made a pair of free throws and then made a layup. The Nettes, come away with the 51-41 win.

Leading scorers for the Nettes:

Caroline Mullins: 17 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 13 points

Emma Gleason: 8 points

Bella Hopkins: 8 points

Madison Powell: 3 points

Brylee Deering: 2 points

The Nettes, will be on the road on Saturday, December 10th as they take on a familiar foe in the Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins. They gone back in forth the last couple of years as region opponents. Now, it’s a non-region game. Tip off is set for 3 pm in Tunnel Hill.