Dragons lose heart breaker to GAC in region championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 16, 2025
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.
Nettes win 6-AAA Championship in OT thriller
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 16, 2025
Jasper, Ga — It was Championship Saturday on February 15th as the Pickens Dragonettes, battled the White County Lady Warriors for the 6-AAA Girls Region Championship. These two teams were the top two seeds coming into the tournament, and it was sure to be a back and forth ball game the whole way through. This game, needed an extra four minutes to decide a winner as it would be the Nettes who would come away victorious, 64-59.
Bella Martin, would get things started in the first quarter as she hit a three to put the Nettes ahead, 3-0. After a layup by Aslyn Burkett cut the lead to one, Martin and Ellie Hollis would go on a 4-0 run to make it 7-2 Nettes. A three by Kylie Watkins would cut the lead down to two. That would start what would become a 7-0 run as the Lady Warriors would take a 10-7 lead.
Ellison Steinhauer, would cut the lead down to one after sinking a pair of free throws. After Watkins split a pair of free throws, Tania Rivera and Anijah Moss, would trade three point baskets as the Lady Warriors led it, 14-12. Steinhauer, would then split a pair of free throws and then drain a three to make it 16-14 Nettes. A 4-0 run by Burkett and Watkins, would give the Lady Warriors an 18-16 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Watkins, would continue her fast start to the game as she opened up the second quarter with a layup to make it 20-14. A layup by Hollis, would make it a two point game. The two teams would trade buckets for the rest of the first half as the Lady Warriors, maintained a 34-32 lead heading into halftime.
Hollis, Martin, and Steinhauer, would begin the second half with a 6-0 run to give the Nettes a 38-34 lead. A layup by Watkins, would end the run and cut the lead in half. Rivera, would then make back to back baskets to put the Nettes ahead, 42-36. Watkins and Steinhauer, would trade buckets as the Nettes led it, 44-38. A 5-0 run by Moss and Watkins, would cut the lead down to one.
Steinhauer, would make a pair of free throws to give the Nettes a 46-43 lead over the Lady Warriors heading to the fourth quarter.
Steinhauer, would go on a 4-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to stretch the lead out to 50-43. A 5-0 run by Watkins and Emma Lightsey, would cut the lead down to two. After a basket by Steinhauer, Watkins and Lightsey would go on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 52. A layup by Steinhauer, would put the Nettes back in front, 54-52. A long two pointer from Burkett, would tie the game up at 54.
Steinhauer, had a good look at a potential game winning shot, but it would not go and the 6-AAA Region Championship, would be headed to overtime.
Rivera, would get things going in overtime as she would make a short jumper as she was being fouled. She would make the free throw to put the Nettes ahead, 57-54. A pair of free throws by Watkins, would cut the lead to one. Rivera, would then hit a big time three to put the Nettes ahead, 60-56. After a bucket by Lightsey, Steinhauer, would make a pair of free throws to make it 62-58 Nettes.
Steinhauer, would step to the line again and calmly make another pair of free throws to stretch the lead out to 64-58. Burkett, would split a pair of free throws to make it 64-59. The Nettes, would hang on to capture the 6-AAA Region Championship, 64-59.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 30 points
Tania Rivera: 13 points
Bella Martin: 10 points
Ellie Hollis: 9 points
Reagan Ludington: 2 points
The Nettes, will now have to play the waiting game to see where they end up seeding wise for the AAA State Tournament. As a region champion, the Nettes are guaranteed a top 8 selection. Some have even predicted that the Nettes may end up with the top overall seed. We’ll have to wait for the GHSA to come out with their rankings for the final answer.
Dragons use big second half to move on to 6-AAA Championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 15, 2025
Jasper, Ga — There were four teams remaining on the boys side of the 6-AAA Region Tournament heading into the semifinals on Friday, February 14th. The earlier game saw the GAC Spartans, get past the Lumpkin Indians to secure a spot in the Championship game. The Pickens Dragons, took on the Trojans of North Hall. The Dragons, who were trailing at the half, used a 49-20 second half to pick up a 79-55 win.
Micah Jimerson, would connect on a short jumper to get the scoring started and give the Trojans a 2-0 lead. A layup by Brock Barton, would jump start an 11-0 run by the Dragons as Parker Davis, Caleb Lanford, and McCord Purdy also contributed to the run. A bucket by Cole Hulsey, would cut the lead to 11-4. After a basket by Parker Davis, Hulsey, would then complete an and-1 play to trim the lead down to 13-7.
Hulsey, would then score on a layup to cut the lead to four. Jamin Martin, would hit a running jumper to make it 15-9. A three by Gunner Spain, would cut the lead down to 15-12. A late bucket by Parker Davis, would make it 17-12 Dragons heading to the second quarter.
Barton, would begin the second quarter with a three pointer to make it 20-12. Hulsey and Lanford, would then trade free throw makes as the Dragons led it, 21-13. After a basket by Jimerson, Lanford, would hit a three to make it 24-15. Hulsey and Cooper Payton, would combine for a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 24-20. After a layup by Barton, the Trojans, would go on a 7-0 run to take a 27-26 lead.
Parker Davis, would put an end to the run with a pair of free throws to give the Dragons a 28-27 lead. The Trojans, would retake the lead after an 8-0 run to make it 35-28. A late basket by Barton would cut the lead down to 36-30 heading into the break.
Dodge Davis and Hulsey, would trade three point buckets to open the second half as the Trojans led it, 38-33. Purdy, would then split a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to four. After a basket by Jimerson, the Dragons, would go on an 11-0 run to retake the lead, 45-40. A bucket by Walker Davis, would end the run and cut the lead to 45-42. Dodge Davis, Lanford, and Barton would then combine for a 6-0 run to stretch the lead out to 51-42.
Hulsey, would split a pair of free throws to cut the Dragons lead down to 51-43 heading to the fourth quarter.
Spain and Jimerson, would hit back to back threes to begin the fourth quarter to cut the Dragons lead down to 51-49. The Dragons, would counter with a 7-0 run to stretch the lead out to 58-49. A bucket by Hulsey, would cut the lead to 58-51. Another 7-0 run by the Dragons, would make it 65-51. A pair of free throws by Jimerson, would cut the lead down to 65-53.
Purdy, would then make four straight free throws to give the Dragons a 69-53 lead. A basket by Walker Vining, would cut the lead to 69-55. From there, the Trojans would go on a fouling spree as Purdy, Dodge Davis, and Lanford, would combine to make 8 straight free throws. A late steal and bucket by Parker Davis to end the game, would seal a 79-55 win for the Dragons.
Leading scorers for the Dragons:
Dodge Davis: 20 points
Caleb Lanford: 15 points
McCord Purdy: 15 points
Parker Davis: 14 points
Brock Barton: 9 points
Jamin Martin: 2 points
The Dragons, will now shift their attention to the GAC Spartans as they will battle for the 6-AAA Region Championship on Saturday, February 15th. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.