Dominant second half sends Nettes to region semifinals

Norcross, Ga — On Monday, February 16th, the Pickens Dragons, battled back to move past the Chestatee War Eagles to advance to the semifinals on the boys side. The Dragonettes, looked to punch their ticket to the girls semifinals on Tuesday, February 17th as they took on the Dawson Lady Tigers. It looked like the makings of another close game between the two after the first half, but the Nettes would take over and outscore the Lady Tigers 39-11 in the second half to pick up the win 64-31.

 

The Lady Tigers, would jump out to an early lead to start the game as Ava Roberson and Lilly Abbott, would combine to go on a 5-0 run. Darbi Stanley and Abbott, would then trade baskets as Dawson led it, 7-2. Skyler Lathem, Tania Rivera, and Ellison Steinhauer, would then combine for a 5-0 run to tie the game at 7. The Lady Tigers, would counter that run with another combined 5-0 run by Roberson and Abbott to make it 12-7.

A three pointer and a pair of free throws by Reagan Ludington, would tie the game up at 12. A late bucket by Abbott, would give the Lady Tigers a 14-12 lead heading to the second quarter.

 

Back to back baskets by Steinhauer, would open up the second quarter as the Nettes took a 16-14 lead. A bucket by Roberson, would tie the game at 16. A big momentum shifter came after Stanley, would hit a three as she was being fouled. Stanley, would make the free throw to give the Nettes a 20-16 advantage. Abbott and Roberson, doing the heavy lifting for the Lady Tigers, would tie the game after back to back baskets.

A combined 5-0 run by Ludington and Rivera to close out the first half, would give the Nettes a 25-20 lead over the Lady Tigers heading into the break.

 

Steinhauer, the 6-AAA Girls Region Player of the Year and North Georgia commit, would absolutely take over for the Nettes in the third quarter. Steinhauer, would begin the second half by going on an 8-0 run to stretch the lead out to 33-20. A layup by Abbott, would end the run and make it 33-22. Steinhauer and Stanley, would then go on a combined 8-0 run to make it 41-22.

Abbott, and Steinhauer, would then trade free throw makes to end the third quarter as the Nettes would take a 43-24 lead into the fourth.

 

Rivera, Ludington, and Stanley, would start the fourth quarter by going on a combined 10-0 run to make it 53-24. Abbott, would end the run by completing an and-1 play to cut the lead to 53-27. After a pair of free throws by Steinahuer, Carleigh Hoffard, would get a layup to go to make it 57-27. A three by Abbott, would cut the lead to 57-30. Khloe Pruitt and Stanley, would combine to go on a 5-0 run to make it 62-30.

After Roberson split a pair of free throws, Ludington, would end the scoring by making a pair of free throws as the Nettes would come away with a 64-31 win.

 

Scoring leaders for the Nettes:

Ellison Steinhauer: 23 points

Darbi Stanley: 15 points

Reagan Ludington: 11 points

Tania Rivera: 9 points

Carleigh Hoffard: 2 points

Skyler Lathem: 2 points

Khloe Pruitt: 2 points

 

With the win, the Nettes have advanced to the 6-AAA region semifinals where they will take on the White County Lady Warriors on Thursday, February 19th at Chestatee High School. These two teams split their regular season meetings. Tip off is set for 4 pm.