Dawsonville, Ga — The Pickens Dragons made the short trip up to Dawsonville on Friday, February 13th to take on the Dawson Tigers in the regular season finale. The Dragons, came in winners of 7 in a row and were looking to end the regular season tied at the top of the region standings. The Tigers, were either going to be the #4 or #5 seed depending on results from the North Hall/Chestatee game. The Tigers, much like the girls game, would make a fourth quarter comeback, but the Dragons would hold on for the 65-56 win.

The two teams would trade baskets to begin the ball game as it was 4-4 early on. 6-AAA Boys Region Player of the Year, McCord Purdy and DJ Mitchell, would combine to go on an 8-0 run to make it 12-4 Dragons. A three by Corbin Cantrell, would end the run and cut the lead to five. After a layup by Hayden Jones, Cantrell, hit another three to make it 14-10.

The two teams would again go back and forth to close out the first quarter as the Dragons would take a 21-14 lead into the second quarter.

Cayson Chester, Jack Ledbetter, and Landon Lee, would open the second quarter with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 21-20. Jones, would end the run with a bucket to push the lead to 23-20. A basket by Brody Sorensen, would once again cut the lead to one. The Dragons, would close the first half on a 10-0 run to make it 33-22 heading into the break.

Back to back baskets by Mason Hester and Chester, would make it a seven point game. After a bucket by Aiden Mumaw, Harvey, would hit a three and Lee would split a pair of free throws as the Dragons led it by five. A 5-0 run by the Dragons, would push the lead back to double digits. After a pair of free throws by Ledbetter, Mitchell, would split a pair of free throws and then hit a three to make it 44-32.

After Lee would make some free throw shots, the Dragons, led by Brody Bryant and Purdy, would go on an 8-0 run to stretch the lead out to 52-34. Chester, would end the run with a pair of free throws. Bryant, would hit another three to make it 55-36. back to back buckets by Sorensen and Ledbetter, would cut the lead to 15. Purdy and Lee, would trade baskets to end the third as the Dragons took a 57-42 lead heading to the fourth.

Lee, Chester, and Harvey, would start the fourth quarter by going on an 8-0 run to cut the lead down to 57-50. A three by Jedidiah Lanford, would get the Dragons on the board in the fourth and make it a ten point game. Lee and Lanford, would then trade buckets as the Dragons maintained a ten point advantage. After a bucket be Sorensen, no other field goals would be made by either team as it ended as a game of free throws. Pickens took the win, 65-56.

The Dragons, GAC, and Lumpkin, have all finished the regular season with a region record of 12-2. Based off the PSR, the Lumpkin Indians, will be the regular season region champs, and host the quarterfinal games on Monday, February 16th. They will take on the #8 seed Johnson. The other known first round game is the #4 seed Dawson vs the #5 seed North Hall. We’ll have to see where Pickens and GAC fall in the PSR over the weekend.

If the Dragons end up as the #2 seed, they’ll take on the #7 seed Chestatee on Monday. Should they end up as the #3 seed, they’ll face the #6 seed White County in the first round.