Oakwood, Ga — It was the final night of the regular season as the Pickens Dragonettes traveled down to Oakwood, Ga to take on the West Hall Lady Spartans on Friday, February 10th. The Nettes, defeated the Lady Spartans in Jasper on January 17th, and looked to complete the season sweep ahead of next week’s region tournament. In a great game by everyone involved, Pickens picked up a 61-8 win over West Hall.

The Nettes, started the game on fire going on a massive run. It began early on in the first quarter with a quick basket. Freshman Ellison Steinhauer, stole the ball, took it all the way down the court, made the layup, got fouled, and coverted the and-1 to make it 5-0. Pickens, would then force a shot clock violation on the Lady Spartans. Caroline Mullins would find Emma Gleason underneath the basket for the lay in to make it 7-0.

The scoring continued for the Nettes as Ashaela Buchanan and Ellison Steinhauer hit back to back three pointers to make it 13-0. In the last remaining seconds of the first quarter, Emery Steinhauer grabbed the ball after a block by Mullins and raced down the court and laid the ball in just before the buzzer to make it 15-0 Nettes going to the second.

To open up the second quarter, Ellison Steinhauer got possession of the ball after a wide pass by West Hall and found a streaking Brylee Deering for the layup to make it 17-0. Steinhauer, Ellison that is, then got another steal and took it coast to coast for the bucket to make it 19-0. After a block by Bella Hopkins, Pickens was able to save the ball and Hopkins took it all the way for the lay in.

Hopkins then stole the in-bounds pass and got fouled. She would make both free throws to make it 23-0. Mullins, got in the score book as she received the in-bounds pass from Emery Steinhauer and got the short shot to fall to make it 25-0. Buchanan, then made back to back three pointers to make it 31-0. Mullins, was able to drive into the lane and make the layup with contact. She would complete the and-1 to make it 34-0. Emery Steinhauer, hit a three pointer to make it 37-0 as they hit halftime.

Bella Hopkins, got the second half started with a pair of free throws to make it 39-0. The Lady Spartans would then finally break their drought and get on the board with a three pointer to make it 39-3. The Nettes, then went on an 8-0 run as they got baskets from Ellison Steinhauer, Mullins, and Emmie Moore. Hopkins also made a pair of free throws during the run to make it 47-3.

West Hall, ended the run with a free throw line jumper to make it 47-3. Deering, split a pair of free throws and Ellison Steinhauer would make both of hers as the Nettes took a 50-5 lead into the fourth quarter.

In a shortened fourth quarter, Pickens got the scoring started as Mullins found a cutting Gleason for the lay up to make it 52-5. That would turn into a 6-0 run as Hopkins and Deering both got layups after steals to make it 56-5. The Lady Spartans ended the run as they made a contested shot and got the free throw to go to make it 56-8. The Nettes would close the game on a 5-0 run as Moore found Emery Steinhauer for a three pointer, and Deering got another layup to go after another steal. The final score in this one, 61-8.

Final 7-AAA Girls Region Standings:

Lumpkin County: 21-3 (11-1) region champion & #1 seed

Wesleyan: 21-3 (10-2) #2 seed

White County: 18-7 (8-4) #3 seed

Pickens: 19-6 (7-5) #4 seed

Dawson County: 12-13 (4-8) #5 seed

Gilmer: 6-19 (2-10) #6 seed

West Hall: 3-22 (0-12) #7  seed

The Nettes, will now turn their attention to the 7-AAA Region Tournament that starts on Monday, February 13th. Pickens, as seen above, will be the #4 seed in the tournament and take on the #5 seeded Dawson Lady Tigers. The Nettes swept the Lady Tigers during the regular season winning 62-46 on December 13th in Dawsonville and 46-37 on January 26th in Jasper. Tip off for this third meeting is set for 4:30 pm on Monday. The game will be played at Wesleyan.