Jasper, Ga — There was a bug fight feel in the atmosphere on Saturday, February 15th as the Pickens Dragons took on the GAC Spartans for the Boys 6-AAA Region Championship. These two teams were the top two seeds coming into the tournament, and showed why that was the case throughout the week. This game, would come down to the wire as the Spartans, would hold on at the very end to pick up a 66-64 win.

Parker Davis, would get things going with a layup to put the Dragons ahead early. A long two pointer by Mario Hill Jr, would tie the game up at 2. Dodge Davis, would make his presence known early as he would make the layup through contact. He would complete the and-1 play to make it 5-2 Dragons. After Vinh Nguyen and Parker Davis traded layups, Mikey Carpenter, would complete an and-1 play to tie the game at 7.

A pair of free throws by Dodge Davis, would give the Dragons a 9-7 lead. An 8-0 run by the Spartans, would put them in front, 15-9. Back to back buckets by Dodge Davis, would cut the Spartan lead down to 15-13. The Spartans, would close out the first quarter with a 5-0 run to make it 20-13 heading to the second quarter.

Dodge Davis, would cut into the lead with a basket to make it 20-15. After a layup by Baer Bailey, Caleb Lanford, would hit a three to cut the lead to 22-18. Parker Davis, would follow that up with a layup to cut the lead down to two. A 5-0 run by the Spartans, would make it 27-20. The Dragons, would then go on a 15-0 run to retake the lead, 35-27. Nguyen, would split a pair of free throws to close out the first half as the Dragons led it, 35-28.

Carpenter and Nguyen, would open up the second half with a 5-0 run to cut the lead down to two. A bucket by Lanford, would make it 37-33. Ledger Kincaid and Brock Barton, would both make a pair of free throws as the Dragons led it, 39-35. A three pointer by Carpenter, would cut the lead down to one. A basket from McCord Purdy, would bring it back to a three point game.

Carpenter, would then hit another three to tie the game up at 41. A 6-0 run by the Dragons, would give them a 47-41 lead. A 5-0 run by the Spartans, would make it 47-46. After Purdy split a pair of free throws, Carpenter and Hill Jr, would close out the third quarter with back to back three pointers to give the Spartans a 52-48 lead heading to the fourth.

A pair of free throws by Parker Davis, would cut the lead down to two. After Nguyen and Barton traded baskets, Hill Jr and Kincaid, would hit back to back threes to make it 60-52. The Dragons, would then go on a 6-0 run, to cut the lead down to 60-58. A three by Adrian Hughes, would make it 63-58. Parker Davis, would answer that three with one of his own to make it 63-61.

After several intentional fouls by the Dragons, Hill Jr, would go to the line for two shots. He would make both to put the Spartans up 65-61. With time dwindling down, Barton, would hit a three from the edge of the mid court logo to cut the lead to 65-64. Hill Jr, would go back to the line where he would split a pair of free throws to make it 66-64.

With 5 seconds left on the clock, Purdy, raced from one end of the floor to the other and got a good look at a potential game tying shot, but it would not fall as the Spartans would hang on for the 66-64 win.

Leading scorers for the Dragons:

Dodge Davis: 22 points

Parker Davis: 18 points

Brock Barton: 10 points

Caleb Lanford: 7 points

McCord Purdy: 7 points

The Dragons, will now have to wait and see where they end up in the rankings for the AAA State Tournament. They will be a #2 seed heading into the tournament. They could end up as the #10 seed, but we will have to just wait and see when the GHSA releases their rankings and bracket as to where the Dragons will officially end up.