Panama City, Florida — It was Championship Saturday on Saturday, December 30th as the Pickens Dragonettes took on the Lipscomb Academy Lady Mustangs (TN) in the Aardvark Lawn and Pool Services bracket championship game of the Marlin Christmas Classic Tournament. The Nettes, came in ranked as high as #3 in the 3A classification. The Lady Mustangs, were ranked as high as #6 in the 2A division in Tennessee. The Nettes, after building up an 18 point halftime lead, were able to hold off the Lady Mustangs to pick up a 55-44 victory.

 

After a slow start by both teams to begin the ball game, Caroline Mullins got the scoring going with a bucket to make it 2-0 Nettes. A basket by Grace Simmons of the Lady Mustangs would tie the game. Bella Hopkins would make a layup and Ellison Steinhauer would hit a pair of free throws to make it 6-2. A layup and free throw make by Bella Shepherd would cut the Nettes lead to 6-5.

After both teams traded buckets, Mullins and Hopkins would combine for an 8-0 run to close out the first quarter and give the Nettes a lead of 18-8 going to the second quarter.

 

The run continued for the Nettes to begin the second quarter as Steinhauer hit a three, and Mullins would score 5 straight points to make it 26-8. The two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the first half as they would tie with 8 points a piece after the 8-0 run by Pickens to start the second quarter. Going into the half, the Nettes held a 34-16 lead.

 

Both teams scored a basket each to begin the second half as the Nettes led it, 36-18. From there, the Lady Mustangs, went on their best run of the game up until that point as they would cut the Nettes lead down to 10 with a 10-0 spurt. Hopkins, would close out the third quarter outscoring the Lady Mustangs 7-2 to make it 43-28 going to the fourth.

 

A three pointer by the Lady Mustangs started the scoring in the fourth quarter to cut the Nettes lead to 43-31. A combined 5-0 run by Hopkins and Steinhauer stretched the lead out to 48-31. After a bucket by each team, the Lady Mustangs would go on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 50-41. Later on, the Lady Mustangs would cut it to 7 after a three pointer from Blake Maple.

The Sophomore, Steinhauer, would be sent to the line down the stretch and she would make four free throws to ice the game and give the Nettes the win, 55-44.

 

Scorers for the Nettes:

Caroline Mullins: 22 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 17 points

Bella Hopkins: 16 points

 

With the win, the Nettes close out the 2023 portion of their schedule at 15-0. They will start off 2024 with a good one as they will take on the Model Lady Blue Devils. Model, is currently ranked in the top 10 in the 2A classification at #7. The two teams will play on Saturday, January 6th. Tip off is set for 3 pm.