Jasper, Ga — After a big region win over 3A #5 White County last Friday, the Pickens Dragonettes looked for another one on Tuesday, February 7th as they welcomed the #3 team in 3A, the Wesleyan Lady Wolves. Wesleyan, defeated the Nettes earlier in the season, so the Nettes were looking to split the season series and move up in the region standings. In what was a good game overall, the Lady Wolves pulled away in the end and came away with a 58-46 win.

In the first quarter, the Lady Wolves got the scoring going with a basket by Audrey Ekoue-Bla to make it 2-0. Caroline Mullins, responded with a bucket to tie things up, then Ellison Steinhauer made a pair of free throws to give the Nettes a 4-2 lead. After a layup by Johanna Potter tied things up again, Bella Hopkins gave Pickens the lead back with a basket to make it 6-4 Nettes. Wesleyan, then went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 11-6.

A three pointer by Steinhauer cut the lead down to 11-9. Potter, answered with her own three pointer to make it 14-9. Ellie Hollis, cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 2 with a three pointer making it 14-12. After a timeout, the Lady Wolves went on a 5-0 run to stretch the lead out to 19-12. A bucket by Mullins cut the Wesleyan lead down to 19-14 as we headed to the second quarter.

Wesleyan opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run to make it 23-14. A basket by Hopkins ended the run to make it 23-16. Both teams then traded baskets as the Lady Wolves continued to lead, 25-18. Wesleyan, would then go on an 8-0 run to stretch the lead to 33-18. Emma Gleason, ended the run and also ended the first half scoring with a layup to make it 33-20 Lady Wolves going into the half.

Much like both the first and second quarters, Wesleyan opened the scoring in the third quarter with a layup by Potter to make it 35-20. After a bucket by Mullins, Eva Garabadian, made her first two point shot as she made a pair of three point shots in the first half. Mullins, then went on a 4-0 run to cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 37-26. A basket by Londyn Walker ended the mini Mullins run and made it 39-26 Wesleyan. Stienhauer, again made a pair of free throws to cut it down to 11 once again, 39-28.

Chazadi Wright, made a layup to make it 41-28. The Nettes, then went on a 5-0 run as Hopkins hit a three and then got to the basket for the lay in to make it 41-33. Walker, ended the Hopkins run with a bucket to make it 43-33. A three by Steinhauer cut it to 43-36 with just a few seconds left in the third. That would be enough time for Garabadian to hit her third three of the game just before the horn sounded at the end of the quarter to make it 46-36 Wesleyan going to the fourth.

The Lady Wolves, made it 4-4 starting the quarter scoring as Desiree Davis made a layup to stretch the lead to 48-36. Pickens, then answered with a 5-0 run as Mullins got the shot to go and Steinhauer hit a three to cut the lead to 48-41. Walker, would end the run by making the layup and then completing the and-1 making it 51-41. Mullins, made her first three of the game to cut it down to 7, 51-44. Walker and Steinhauer then traded buckets and it remained a 7 point game, 53-46. After a timeout was called by Wesleyan with under a minute to go in the game, the Nettes had to go into foul mode. The Lady Wolves, were able to hit some free throws at the end of the game to get the 58-46 win.

Leading scorers for the Nettes:

Caroline Mullins: 17 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 15 points

Bella Hopkins: 9 points

Ellie Hollis: 3 points

Emma Gleason: 2 points

The Nettes, are locked in as the #4 seed in next week’s 7-AAA region tournament. They will take on the #5 seed Dawson Lady Tigers on Monday, February 13th at 4:30 for a chance to go to the 3A State Tournament. There’s still one more regular season game left before that as Pickens will travel to West Hall to take on the Lady Spartans on Friday, February 10th. Tip off is set for 6 pm.