Nettes advance to 6-AAA Region Championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 20, 2026
Gainesville, Ga — It was Semifinal Thursday on February 19th as the Pickens Dragonettes, made the trip over to Chestatee High School to take on the White County Lady Warriors for a spot in the 6-AAA Region Championship. These two teams split their regular season meetings with the Lady Warriors holding the Nettes to a season-low 18 points in the last match up. In what was another defensive battle, the Nettes, were able to fend off a last second three to pick up a 38-35 win.
Freshman Darbi Stanley, would get the scoring going with a three to put the Nettes up early. After back to back baskets by Ella Kate Shedd and Kalynn Watkins, Stanley, would hit her second three of the game to make it 6-4. Zara Gosse, would go 3/4 from the free throw line to make it 7-6 Lady Warriors. Carleigh Hoffard, would split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 7 going into the second quarter.
Stanley and Ellison Steinhauer, would make back to back buckets to begin the second quarter to put the Nettes up 11-7. Shedd, would end the mini run with a layup to just the lead in half. A three by Tania Rivera, would stretch the lead out to 14-9. Watkins, and Gosse, would make back to back baskets to make it 14-13. A late three by Steinhauer, would give the Nettes a 17-13 lead at the halfway point.
After some back and forth to start the third quarter, the Nettes, would open up a 32-18 lead late in the frame. Anijah Moss, picked a good time to hit the first three of the game for the Lady Warriors as she would cut the lead to 32-21 heading to the fourth.
Steinhauer, would get things going in the fourth with a layup to make it 34-21. A second three by Moss, would make it a ten point game. After a jumper by Stanley, the Lady Warriors, would go on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 36-31. Stanley, who had the hot hand in this one, cooled down the run a little bit with a bucket to make it 38-31. Back to back baskets by Gosse and Watkins, would trim the lead to 38-35.
A missed three by the Nettes, would give the Lady Warriors the ball with a chance to tie it with a little over 8 seconds remaining. Moss, would throw up a desperation heave just before the buzzer, and it hit the side of the rim as the Nettes survived and advanced to the 6-AAA Region Championship.
Scoring leaders for the Nettes:
Darbi Stanley: 18 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 11 points
Tania Rivera: 5 points
Reagan Ludington: 3 points
Carleigh Hoffard: 1 point
The Nettes, will be back at Chestatee on Friday, February 20th as they take on the #1 seed GAC Lady Spartans for the 6-AAA Region Championship. These two teams split their regular season meetings with each team winning on their home floor. How will it play out at a neutral site? Tip off is set for 6 pm.
Dominant second half sends Nettes to region semifinals
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 18, 2026
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.
Dragons roll into region tournament riding 8 game win streak
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 13, 2026
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.
Nettes will be #2 seed in next week’s region tournament
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 13, 2026
Dawsonville, Ga — Friday, February 13th marked the end of the regular season as the Pickens Dragonettes, took on the Dawson Lady Tigers. The Nettes, already had the #2 seed locked up coming into the game. For the Lady Tigers, there was a chance for them to get the #6 seed depending on the Chestatee/North Hall final. The Nettes, were able to hold off the Lady Tigers after a furious fourth quarter rally as they picked up the win, 43-38.
The game started off with something special. After a lay-in by the Nettes, Lady Tigers Senior Madi Suta, playing here final home game for Dawson, was able to make a layup before being subbed out. The Nettes, would then go on a 5-0 run as Darbi Stanley would hit a three, and Reagan Ludington, would get a basket to go to make it 7-2. A bucket by Baylee Green, would cut the lead to three.
The 6-AAA Region Player of the Year and recent North Georgia signee Ellison Steinhauer, would go on a 4-0 run to make it 11-4. A 5-0 run by Laila Woody and Ava Roberson, would trim the lead to two. The two teams would trade baskets to end the first quarter as the Nettes took a 14-11 lead into the second quarter.
Steinhauer, would get things going to begin the second quarter as she would make it a five point game. Lilly Abbott and Steinhauer, would then trade buckets as the Nettes led it, 18-13. A combined 5-0 run by Abbott and Green, would tie the game at 18. Ludington and Steinhauer, would answer with a 6-0 run as the Nettes went ahead, 24-18. A pair of free throws by Kadence Rhodes, would end the run and cut the lead to four. A late three by Stanley, would give the Nettes a 27-20 advantage heading to halftime.
Green, would open the second half by cutting the lead back down to five. The Nettes, would counter with a 9-0 combined run by Steinhauer, Tania Rivers, and Ludington. Abbott, would end the run with a basket to cut the Nettes lead to 36-24 heading to the fourth.
The Lady Tigers, would claw back into the game as Abbott and Roberson, would combine to go on a 10-0 run to trim the lead down to 36-34. A pair of free throws by Steinhauer, would end the run and push the lead up to four. After another bucket by Roberson, Steinahuer, would make four straight from the free throw line to give the Nettes a 42-36 lead. A pair of free throws by Abbott, would once again make it a four point game.
Ludington, would then split a pair of free throws to make it 43-38. The Nettes, would be able to hang on as they picked up a big win on the road, 43-38.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 22 points
Darbi Stanley: 10 points
Reagan Ludington: 9 points
Tania Rivera: 2 points
6-AAA Tournament First Round Games (@ GAC)
#8 Johnson-Gainesville vs #1 GAC
#7 Dawson vs #2 Pickens
#6 Chestatee vs #3 White County
#5 North Hall vs #4 Lumpkin
As you can see above, the Nettes, will battle the Dawson Lady Tigers for a third time in the quarterfinals of the girls 6-AAA Region Tournament at GAC on Tuesday, February 17th. Tip off is set for 7 pm.
Nettes advance to 6-AAA Championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 15, 2025
Jasper, Ga — It was Semifinal Friday on February 14th as four teams were vying for a spot in the 6-AAA Region Championship game. The earlier game saw the White County Lady Warriors, outlast the Chestatee Lady War Eagles to advance to the championship game. The Pickens Dragonettes, took on the GAC Lady Spartans. The Nettes, would lead throughout as they would pick up a 78-50 win.
The Lady Spartans, would get on the board early as Cobi Obi, would split a pair of free throws. Ellison Steinhauer, would also split a pair of free throws on the other end to tie the game at 1. The Lady Spartans, would then go on a 4-0 run as Obi and Dru Jeckewicz, made back to back layups to give GAC a 5-1 lead. Ellie Hollis and Steinhauer, would respond with back to back buckets to tie the game at 5.
After another basket by Jeckewicz, Bella Martin, would make a pair of free throws to once again tie the ball game. Asia Johnson, would put the Lady Spartans back in front with a layup. A three pointer by Steinhauer, would give the Nettes an 11-10 lead. After a three by Barri Newman, the Nettes, would go on a 6-0 run as Martin would hit a three, and make a jumper. Bree Jewell, would split a pair of free throws to make it 16-12.
A late bucket by Jeckewicz, would cut the lead down to 16-14 heading to the second quarter.
Steinhauer, would get the second quarter going with a three to make it 19-14. Jeckewicz, would answer with a three of her own to make it 19-17. A 4-0 run by Steinhauer and Tania Rivera, would stretch the lead to 23-17. After a layup by Obi, Rivera and Steinhauer, would again combine for another 4-0 run to make it 27-19. A three by Johnson, would cut the lead down to 27-22.
Steinhauer and Rivera, would again team up as they would combine to go on a 5-0 run to make it 32-22. Newman and Brylee Deering, would trade three point baskets to close out the first half as the Nettes would take a 35-25 lead into the half.
Johnson, would start the second half with a layup to cut the lead to 8. The Nettes, would then go on a 7-0 run as Deering would hit a three, Hollis would make a layup, and Martin would connect on a jumper to stretch the lead out to 42-27. Jaymee Carter, would split a pair of free throws to end the run and make it 42-28. Steinhauer and Martin, would then combine for an 8-0 run to make it 50-28.
The Lady Spartans, would score four straight points as Newman, would make a pair of free throws and Jeckewicz, would make a basket to cut the lead to 50-32. After a layup by Rivera, Johnson, would split a pair of free throws and then add a layup to make it 52-35. Steinhauer and Newman, would trade three point buckets to end the third quarter as the Nettes held a 55-38 lead heading to the fourth.
Rivera and Newman, would trade three pointers to begin the fourth quarter. Reagan Ludington and Rivera, would then combine for a 5-0 run to stretch the lead out to 63-41. After a bucket by Lizzy Hathaway, Rivera and Deering, would make back to back layups to make it 67-43. Johnson, would then hit a pair of free throws to make it 67-45. After a three by Martin, Carter, would split a pair of free throws to make it 70-46.
Steinhauer and Hollis, would then go on a 5-0 run to stretch the lead out to 75-46. After a layup by Johnson, Steinhauer, would make three of four free throws to make it 78-48. A late layup by Johnson, would make it 78-50. The Nettes, would punch their ticket to the 6-AAA Region Championship with a 78-50 win.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 29 points
Tania Rivera: 17 points
Bella Martin: 15 points
Brylee Deering: 8 points
Ellie Hollis: 6 points
Reagan Ludington: 2 points
Bree Jewell: 1 point
The Nettes, will now turn their focus to the 6-AAA Region Championship as they will take on the #2 seed in the tournament, the White County Lady Warriors on Saturday, February 15th. Tip off is set for 6 pm.
Nettes advance to 6-AAA Semifinals
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 12, 2025
Jasper, Ga — The girls side of the 6-AAA Region Tournament began on Tuesday, February 11th as teams were looking to officially punch their ticket to the State Tournament. The Pickens Dragonettes, the host team for the tournament, came into the tournament as the #1 seed. Their opponent, the Johnson Lady Knights, came into the tournament as the #8 seed. Earlier games saw GAC defeat Dawson, Chestatee defeat North Hall, and White County defeat Lumpkin. The Nettes, would get past the Lady Knights, 75-18.
The Nettes, would begin the game by going on a 16-0 run as all five starters Bella Martin, Reagan Ludington, Brylee Deering, Ellison Steinhauer, and Ellie Hollis all contributed to the run. A pair of free throws by Harbor Landers, would put an end to the run and make it 16-2. The Nettes, would then go on a 20-0 run as Martin, Tania Rivera, Steinhauer, and Bree Jewell would all score during the run.
A three by Elena Rhoads, would end that Nettes run and make it 36-5. A late three by Steinhauer, would give the Nettes a 39-5 lead heading to the second quarter.
A three by Ludington, would get the second quarter started to make it 42-5. After a layup by Landers, Jewell and Ludington, would go on a 6-0 run to make it 48-7. The Lady Knights, would then counter with a 5-0 run as Rhoads hit her second three of the game and Landers would follow with a layup to cut the lead to 48-12. The Nettes, would close out the first half on a 10-0 run as Ruby Flatt, Kylee Bozeman, Jewell, and Skyler Lathem would make it 58-12 at the break.
The second half would be shortened to 6 minute quarters. Landers, would begin the scoring in the third quarter with a bucket to make it 58-14. Flatt and Lathem, would then combine to go on a 7-0 run throughout the rest of the quarter as the Nettes, would take a 65-14 lead into the fourth.
Bozeman and Jewell, would begin the fourth quarter by going on a 5-0 run to make it 70-14. A pair of free throws by Taelor Carruth, would make it 70-16. Caleigh Hofford, would get into the score book with a layup to make it 72-16. Landers, would connect on another basket to make it 72-18. A late three pointer by Sophie Adams, would make it 75-18. The Nettes, would pick up the win, 75-18.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Bree Jewell: 16 points
Bella Martin: 9 points
Tania Riveria: 9 points
Ruby Flatt: 8 points
Reagan Ludington: 8 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 7 points
Kylee Bozeman: 4 points
Skyler Lathem: 4 points
Sophie Adams: 3 points
Ellie Hollis: 3 points
Brylee Deering: 2 points
Caleigh Hofford: 2 points
The Nettes, will now turn their attention to Friday, February 14th as they will take on the GAC Lady Spartans in a 6-AAA Region Tournament Semifinal game. The winner, will go on to face the winner of White County and Chestatee on Saturday, February 15th. Tip off for the Nettes and Lady Spartans is set for 7 pm.
Nettes split with Lady Tigers to end regular season
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 8, 2025
Jasper, Ga — On Friday, February 7th, the Pickens Dragonettes, welcomed the Dawson Lady Tigers to the Dragons Den for the finale to the ’24-’25 regular season. Coming into the game, the Nettes, were 21-2 and 12-1 in 6-AAA play. The Lady Tigers, came into the game at 15-9 and 8-5 in 6-AAA play. The Nettes, were looking to even up the season series after the Lady Tigers took the first meeting on January 14th. Even up the series they did as the Nettes picked up the win, 67-34.
Eva Bishop, would give the Lady Tigers an early 2-0 lead after a jumper. Bella Martin, would respond by going on a 5-0 run to give the Nettes a 5-2 lead. Bishop, would end the run and cut the lead to one after a layup. Reagan Ludington and Ellison Steinhauer, would then make back to back buckets to give the Nettes a 9-4 lead. Maddie Siuta, would hit a three to cut the lead down to two.
After Ludington and Bishop traded baskets, Steinhauer, would close out the first quarter by going on a 5-0 run. Included in that run, was a running three pointer as the clock expired. Heading to the second quarter, the Nettes, led the Lasy Tigers, 16-9.
Steinhauer, would continue her run to begin the second quarter as she would score the first five points of the frame to stretch the Nettes lead out to 21-9. A three by Siuta, would end the run and cut the lead down to 21-12. Steinhauer and Tania Rivera, would then hit back to back threes to make it 27-12. The two teams would trade buckets for the remainder of the first half as the Nettes led the Lady Tigers, 33-19 at the break.
Martin and Steinhauer, would pen the second half with back to back baskets to make it 37-19. Rielyn Talley, would hit a three to cut the lead to 37-22. After Ellie Hollis made a pair of free throws, Bishop, would make a layup to cut the lead to 39-24. A 5-0 run by Ludington and Martin, would extend the lead to 44-24. After Bishop split a pair of free throws, Steinhauer and Hollis would end the quarter on a 7-0 run as the Nettes led the Lady Tigers, 51-25.
Addison Smith, got the fourth quarter going with a bucket to make it 51-27. Kylee Bozeman, would respond with a three to make it 54-27. After a bit of a back and forth, Steinhauer and Rivera, would combine for a 7-0 run to make it 63-31. A basket by Bishop, would put an end to the run and make it 63-33. Steinhauer, would then hit a three, and Skyler Lathem, would split a pair of free throws to make it 67-33.
Kadence Rhodes, would split a pair of late free throws as the Nettes, would pick up the win in the regular season finale, 67-34.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 29 points
Bella Martin: 12 points
Reagan Ludington: 10 points
Tania Rivera: 8 points
Ellie Hollis: 4 points
Kylee Bozeman: 3 points
Skyler Lathem: 1 point
6-AAA Girls Region Tournament Quarterfinal Games:
#8 Johnson-Gainesville vs #1 Pickens
#7 Lumpkin vs #2 White County
#6 North Hall vs #3 Chestatee
#5 GAC vs #4 Dawson
All of the games for the 6-AAA Region Tournament will be played at Pickens High School. Quarterfinal games for the girls side will begin on Tuesday, February 11th. The Nettes, will take on the Johnson-Gainesville Lady Knights at 8:30 pm.


