Jasper, Ga — Friday, February 9th was the final day of the 2023-24 regular season as the Pickens Dragonettes hosted the West Hall Lady Spartans for Senior Night. Coming into the game, the Nettes were 21-3, 8-3 in region play, and ranked 4th in AAA. The Lady Spartans, were 1-20, and 0-11 in region play coming into the game. All 5 Nettes Seniors would start and score as the Nettes defeated the Lady Spartans, 81-11.

 

To begin the ball game, Yatsar Matos scored with a layup to put the Lady Spartans up 2-0. The Nettes, quickly tied things up as Senior Emery Bryant, who had been out with an injury, got to suit up and she score the first points of the night for the Nettes. That layup would lead to a 17-0 run by the Nettes as Senior Caroline Mullins, Ellison Steinhauer, Senior Emery Steinhauer, and Seniors Bella Hopkins and Ashaela Buchanan all contributed to the run.

After a bucket by Heidi Zuniga ended the run, the Nettes would close the first quarter making 5 straight threes. Ellison Steinhauer and Reagan Ludington would make the first two, then Hopkins would make three straight to make it 32-4 going to the second quarter.

 

Bree Jewell, would start the second quarter with a pair of free throws to make it 34-4. That would begin what would end up being another 17-0 run to begin the quarter. The run ended up being a 32-0 run across the end of the first quarter and through the second quarter. Matos, ended the long run with a three to make it 49-7. A layup by Hopkins closed out the second quarter scoring to give the Nettes a 51-7 lead at the half.

 

Hopkins, would begin the second half with her 5th three of the night to make it 54-7. After Cayla Radich hit a jumper to make it 54-9, Hopkins, would hit her 6th three of the night as she became the 22nd Nettes player in history to eclipse 1,000 career points. That three would lead to a 15-0 run by the Nettes as Brylee Deering would hit a three, Bella Martin would make 7 straight points and find a wide open Deering for a layup to make it 69-9 going to the fourth.

 

The fourth quarter began with Radich making a basket to make it 69-11. From there, the Nettes would close out the shortened quarter on a 12-0 run as Ludington, Caleigh Hoffard, Buchanan, and Jewell contributed to the run as the Nettes picked up their 22nd win of the season with an 81-11 victory over the West Hall Lady Spartans.

 

Scorers for the Nettes:

Bella Hopkins: 23 points (Senior)

Caroline Mullins: 10 points (Senior)

Reagan Ludington: 10 points

Bree Jewell: 8 points

Bella Martin: 7 points

Ashaela Buchanan: 5 points (Senior)

Brylee Deering: 5 points

Ellsion Steinhauer: 5 points

Caleigh Hoffard: 4 points

Emery Bryant: 2 points (Senior)

Emery Steinhauer: 2 points (Senior)

 

Final 7-AAA Girls Basketball Standings:

Wesleyan: 21-3 (12-0) #1 seed

Pickens: 22-3 (9-3) #2 seed

Dawson: 16-9 (8-4) #3 seed

White County: 18-7 (6-6) #4 seed

Lumpkin: 9-16 (4-8) #5 seed

Gilmer: 8-15 (3-9) #6 seed

West Hall: 1-21 (0-12) #7 seed

 

By being the #1 seed, Wesleyan has earned a first round bye and have already clinched a spot in the AAA State Basketball Tournament. The first round of the 7-AAA Region Tournament will take place on Tuesday, February 13th at Pickens High School. The White County Lady Warriors will take on the Lumpkin County Lady Indians at 4:30, the Dawson Lady Tigers will take on the Gilmer Lady Cats at 6, and the Nettes, will take on the West Hall Lady Spartans at 7:30.