Second half bounce back helps Nettes sweep GAC

Norcoss, Ga — On Tuesday, January 28th, the Pickens Dragonettes made their way down to Norcross to take on the Lady Spartans of Greater Atlanta Christian School in a 6-AAA match up. Coming into the game, the Nettes, were 18-2 and 9-1 in region play. The Lady Spartans, were 11-9 and 4-5 in region play. With the Lady Spartans looking for the upset bid, Ellison Steinhauer would score a game high 31 points as she helped lead a big second half comeback. The Nettes, would get the win, 56-48.

The Lady Spartans got on the board first after a pair of free throws by Lizzy Hathaway. After a bucket by Stienhauer would tie it up, Hathaway, would hit a three to make it 5-2. Steinhauer, would come back with a layup to make it 5-4. Hathaway, would then hit another three to stretch the lead out to 8-4. Steinhauer, would then cut the lead in half with another basket to make it 8-6.

Dru Jeckewicz, would then split a pair of free throws to make it 9-6. A pair of free throws from Steinhauer, would cut the lead down to one. A bucket by Asia Johnson, would make it 11-8. The Nettes, would end the first quarter on a 5-0 run as Bella Martin would hit a three and Steinhauer would hit a jumper to make it 13-11 Nettes heading to the second quarter.

A basket by Barri Newman, would get the second quarter scoring started as she would tie the game at 13. A bucket by Steinhauer, would give the Nettes a 15-13 lead. Hathaway and Newman, would then go on a 5-0 run to give the Lady Spartans an 18-15 lead. Another Steinhauer basket, would cut the lead down to one. A layup by Jaymee Carter, would give the Lady Spartans a 20-17 lead at the half.

A 4-0 run by Johnson and Newman to begin the second half, would make it 24-17 Lady Spartans. After Steinhauer and Johnson traded baskets, Brylee Deering, Reagan Ludington, Steinhauer, and Martin, would combine to go on a 12-0 run to make it 29-26 as the Nettes would take that three point lead into the fourth quarter.

A three by Steinhauer, would stretch the lead to 32-26. After a layup by Jermani Govan made it 32-28, the Nettes, would on an 8-0 run as Tania Rivera would hit a three, and Steinhauer would hit a three and make a pair of free throws. The Nettes lead would grow to 40-28. After Newman would make a layup and split a pair of free throws, Rivera would hit another three to make it 43-31.

After Johnson and Martin traded buckets, Jeckewicz and Newman would hit back to back threes to cut the lead to 46-39. Steinhauer, would respond with a three of her own to make it a 10 point game. After Jekewicz split a pair of free throws, Newman, would make a layup to cut the lead to 49-42. A basket by Ludington, would stretch the lead back to 9.

A bucket by Jekewicz, would once again cut the lead down to 7. After Martin split a pair of free throws, Carter, would make both of her free throws to make it 52-46. After being intentionally fouled, Martin, would make both of her free throws to make it 54-46. Steinhauer, would follow suit and make both of hers to make it 56-46. Govan, would make a pair of late free throws as the Nettes would come away with the win, 56-48.

Scoring leaders for the Nettes:

Ellison Steinhauer: 31 points

Bella Martin: 12 points

Tania Rivera: 6 points

Reagan Ludington: 5 points

Brylee Deering: 2 points

6-AAA Girls Basketball Standings:

Pickens: 19-2 (10-1)

White County: 16-5 (8-2)

Chestatee: 16-6 (7-3)

Dawson: 14-7 (7-3)

GAC: 11-10 (4-6)

North Hall: 7-14 (3-7)

Lumpkin: 7-15 (2-9)

Johnson-Gainesville: 0-17 (0-10)

The Nettes, will be back home on Friday, January 31st as they begin a three game home stand to close out the ’24-’25 regular season as the White County Lady Warriors come to Jasper for a massive 6-AAA game. The Nettes, defeated the Lady Warriors in a close game back on January 3rd. A win for the Nettes on Friday, would go a long way in helping them clinch a regular season region title, and the 1 seed in the region tournament. Tip off is set for 6 pm.