Dragons sink Raiders to move to 4-0
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 26, 2024
Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, took on the Raiders of Alpharetta on Monday, November 25th for Day two of the Pickens Thanksgiving Classic. The Dragons, would use a fast start to the game to propel them to a big win over the Raiders, 83-43.
The Dragons, got things going right at the beginning as a tip drill led to a wide open dunk for Dodge Davis. This would start a 12-0 run by the Dragons as Dodge Davis, Brock Barton, and Caleb Lanford would all score during the run. CJ Terry, would get the Raiders on the board after splitting a pair of free throws. After a pair of free throws from McCord Purdy, and a bucket by the Raiders, Lanford and Dodge Davis would combine for a 5-0 run to make it 19-3.
After a basket by Terry, Barton would hit a three to make it 22-5. A pair of free throws by Andrew Trembo would make it 22-7. Montego Morgan, would answer with a pair of free throws of his own. The Raiders, would then go on an 8-0 run to cut the Dragons lead down to 24-15. A three by DJ Mitchell, would make it 27-15 Dragons heading to the second quarter.
The Raiders, would start the second quarter on a 6-0 run after hitting back to back threes to make it 27-21. After both teams traded three point buckets, Lanford would go on a personal 5-0 run to make it 35-24. After a basket by the Raiders, the Dragons would go on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead out to 46-26. After Adam Bahhur, split a pair of free throws, Mitchell and Lanford would make back to back threes to give Pickens a 52-27 lead at the break.
Lanford, would stay hot to begin the second half as he hit a three. Dodge Davis, would follow that with a layup to make it 57-27. After George Bixby split a pair of free throws, Dodge Davis and Lanford would make back to back buckets to expand the lead out to 61-28. The two teams would then trade baskets as the Dragons led it, 63-31. Bahhur and Josh Johnson, would make back to back threes for the Raiders to cut the lead to 63-37.
The Dragons, would respond with a 10-0 run as they got four points each from Purdy and Jamin Martin. Dodge Davis would also contribute to the run to make it 73-37. After a basket by the Raiders, Martin would close out the third with a three to make it 76-39 Dragons heading to the fourth.
A shortened fourth quarter started with Morgan driving into the lane and finishing with a tough layup to make it 78-39. That would start a 7-0 run as Martin would make a jumper and Aiden Mumaw would connect on a three to make it 83-39. The Raiders, would end the game on a 4-0 run as the Dragons would come away with an 83-43 victory.
Leading scorers for the Dragons:
Caleb Lanford: 25 points
Dodge Davis: 17 points
Jamin Martin: 12 points
Brock Barton: 8 points
DJ Mitchell: 6 points
McCord Purdy: 6 points
Montego Morgan: 4 points
Aiden Muumaw: 3 points
Parker Davis: 2 points
The Dragons, will wrap up the Pickens Thanksgiving Classic on Tuesday, November 26th as they take on The King’s Academy Knights. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons win physical game against Mt. Bethel
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 24, 2024
Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, took on the Mt Bethel Christian Academy Eagles on Saturday, November 23rd on day one of the Pickens Thanksgiving Classic. Earlier boys action saw The Kings Academy defeat Alpharetta, 80-73. The game between the Dragons and the Eagles was a physical one and it got chippy at times. Pickens, got a pair of free throws from McCord Purdy late in the game to seal a hard fought win, 47-43.
The Eagles, began the game by scoring the first seven points of the quarter. Mt. Bethel, would get baskets from Peter Julius, Tej Efemini, and a three pointer from Bony Shingani. The Dragons, would get on the board as Dodge Davis split a pair of free throws. After Efemini made a layup, Dodge Davis would score the first field goal of the game for the Dragons to make it 9-3. Dodge Davis, would then again split a pair of free throws to make it 9-4.
After a timeout by the Eagles, Trumane Watkins would hit a three to make it 12-4. Parker Davis, would get in on the action to close out the first quarter as he made back to back tough buckets to cut the Eagle lead down to 12-8 heading to the second quarter.
Much like he did in the first quarter, Julius would get the second quarter going with a layup to make it 14-8. Parker Davis, would get his third basket to make it a four point game. After a pair of fouls by the Eagles, McCord Purdy would score his first points of the contest with a bucket to cut the lead down to 14-12. Julius, would make another layup to stretch the lead back to four. The Dragons, answered with a 5-0 run as Caleb Lanford made a basket, and Purdy would hit a three to make it 17-16 Dragons.
Julius, would split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 17. Lanford, would make a tough shot to give the Dragons a 19-17 lead over the Eagles heading into the break.
The Dragons, would carry that momentum into the second half as they began the third quarter with back to back buckets from Lanford and Purdy to make it 23-17. Julius, would end the mini run with a layup to cut the lead down to four. Dodge Davis, would then make a pair of free throws to give the Dragons a 25-19 lead. After a series of fouls, Roman Avery and Dodge Davis would trade three point baskets as Pickens led it, 28-22.
Watkins, would make a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 28-24. Dodge Davis, would then drive then lane and dunk over the attempted block of Julius to make it 30-24. Lanford, would add to the lead with a three to make it 33-24. After free throws from Efemini and Nate Robinson, the Pickens lead was cut to 33-28. Purdy, would get two of those free throws back as he made both of his. The Eagles, would close the third quarter by going on a 6-0 run to cut the Dragons lead down to 35-34 heading to the fourth.
The Eagles, would continue their run that closed the third quarter to begin the fourth as Julius and Efemini made back to back buckets to give Mt. Bethel a 38-35 lead. The Dragons, would counter with a 5-0 run to retake the lead as Dodge Davis hit a three that tied it at 38. Brock Barton, would get into the score book with a very tough layup to make it 40-38. A three by Watkins would give the Eagles a 41-40 lead.
The Dragons, would again answer with a 5-0 run as Dodge Davis would make a bucket, and then Jamin Martin would nail a clutch three to make it 45-41 Pickens. A basket by Robinson would cut the Dragons lead down to 45-43. With the ball game under 30 seconds remaining, and the Eagles at only two fouls, they had to foul the Dragons three straight times to send them to the free throw line.
With 12 seconds left in the game, Purdy would head to the line with a chance to potentially seal the win for the Dragons. Purdy, cool, calm, and collected, nailed both free throws to make it 47-43. The Eagles, wouldn’t be able to get a last second shot up and the Dragons would hang on to win it, 47-43.
Dragons leading scorers:
Dodge Davis: 16 points
McCord Purdy: 11 points
Caleb Lanford: 9 points
Parker Davis: 6 points
Jamin Martin: 3 points
Brock Barton: 2 points
The Dragons, will be back on the court on Monday, November 25th as they take on the Alpharetta Raiders for day two of the Pickens Thanksgiving Classic. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.