Dragons defeat Phoenix to move to 2-1

Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons came into the 2023-24 basketball with some familiar faces, some fresh faces, and under a new direction. Head coach Bob Martin is now the captain running the ship at PHS. The Dragons started off the season with a big 53-30 win over LFO on the road on Saturday, November 11th. The following Saturday saw the Dragons drop a tough one to Lassiter on the first day of the Pickens Thanksgiving Tournament 60-53 in overtime.

On Monday, November 20th, the Dragons were back on the court taking on the Sonoraville Phoenix for the second day of the Pickens Thanksgiving Tournament. In a tightly contested game, the Dragons were able to come out on top, 50-46.

 

In the first quarter, the Phoenix got on the board first for an early 2-0 lead. Dodge Davis tied things up for the Dragons with his first bucket of the night. The Dragons, took their first lead of the night as Dodge Davis and Caleb Landford hit back to back three pointers to make it 8-5. The Phoenix, then went on a 5-0 run to retake the lead, 10-8. Pickens, cut the lead to 1 after Dodge Davis split a pair of free throws to make it 10-9.

After both teams traded three point makes, Nathan Wallace picked the ball off and scored to make it 16-14 Phoenix going to the second quarter.

 

After four consecutive fouls were called to begin the second quarter, three of them on Sonoraville, Parker Davis got the scoring going with a free throw. Dodge Davis, continued his hot start and gave the Dragons the lead back with a bucket. Wallace, added to the lead with a three to make it 20-16 Pickens. Wallace, would extend the lead out to 7 as he was hit in the act of shooting a three and made all of them. Montego Morgan got into the scorebook as he hit a nice jumper after using a nifty move to get open.

After both teams traded a couple of baskets, the Phoenix went on a 4-0 run to close out the first half. Going into the break, the Dragons led, 29-24.

 

The third quarter began with Lanford going on a personal 5-0 run to make it 34-24. A 5-0 run by the Phoenix cut the lead down to 34-29. After a bucket by Lanford, the rest of the quarter turned into fouls and free throws. As the teams headed to the fourth, the Dragons led it, 37-33.

 

The Phoenix, started the fourth quarter scoring early as a 5-0 run gave them the lead for the first time since the first half. Hayden Jones would split a pair of free throws to tie the game up at 38. Jones would then give the Dragons the lead with a basket to make it 40-38. After a three was hit by Sonoraville to give them the 1 point lead, Parker Davis stepped to the line and made both to once again, put the Dragons ahead.

The lead kept changing hands every few seconds it seemed as a floater by the Phoenix gave them a 1 point advantage. Huge back to back three pointers from Parker Davis and McCord Purdy gave the Dragons a 48-43 lead. A three pointer by the Phoenix cut the lead down to just two with well under a minute to go. Purdy, headed to the line looking to seal for the Dragons and the Sophomore did just that. Dragons hold on and take this one, 50-46.

 

Scoring for the Dragons:

Caleb Lanford: 13 points

Dodge Davis: 9 points

Nathan Wallace: 8 points

McCord Purdy: 7 points

Parker Davis: 6 points

Hayden Jones: 5 points

Montego Morgan: 2 points

 

The Dragons, will be back in action on Tuesday, November 21st to close out the Pickens Thanksgiving Tournament as they play host to the Creekview Grizzlies. Tip off set for 7:30 pm.