The Pickens High School Dragons’ basketball season came to an end in the first round of the state playoffs, when the Dragons fell to the Woodward Academy War Eagles 44-49. The Dragons were done in by poor outside shooting, 5-21 from beyond the arc and 31% overall.The Dragons opened up the first quarter shooting well and were able to build a 19-11 first quarter lead. Pickens coach, Brad Steinhauer, felt that the Atlanta school underestimated the Dragons’ skill level because of Pickens County being located in the mountains as opposed to the more urban metro Atlanta area.

“I don’t think they thought we could play,” Steinhauer said.

The second quarter featured Woodward turning up the defensive pressure and pressing the decided height advantage that the War Eagles possessed. The War Eagles had three players 6’5 and up. Woodward outscored the Dragons 14-5 in the second to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.

The Dragons continued to struggle from the outside in the third and were outscored 12-7 in the quarter. The fourth quarter featured a comeback by the Dragons.

Pickens had a chance to tie the game with almost a minute and a half left in the game, when point guard Jordan Shaw missed the free throw on a three point opportunity. Woodward answered with a three point play to put the Dragons down by four. After hitting two of three free throws on the next possession the Dragons found themselves down by two. The War Eagles proceeded to make the necessary free throws to secure the victory.

Steinhauer summed up the loss thusly,

“We didn’t make enough outside shots to win.”

While the Dragons season ended with a loss, Steinhauer was pleased with the team’s season. The preseason goal of making the state tournament was achieved. The Dragons next year team will be without star point guard Jordan Shaw, who is a senior, however, four of the five starters will return to next year’s squad including Spencer Jones, who Steinhauer sees as a player whom he will rely heavily on.

“He’s a very smart basketball player and the guys look to him for leadership,” Steinhauer said about Jones.