Nettes honor ’73-’74 team; defeat Lady Cats
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 20, 2024
Jasper, Ga — In front of a packed out Dragons Den, the #3 ranked team in 3A, the Pickens Dragonettes, took on their rivals from up the road, the Gilmer Lady Cats, on Friday, January 19th. Coming into the game, the Nettes were 18-1, and 5-1 in 7-AAA play. The Lady Cats came into the game with a 7-9 record and 2-4 in 7-AAA play. The Nettes, would jump out to an early lead and never look back as they picked up a 54-20 win to earn the in-season sweep.
Prior to the game beginning, Pickens High School and the Nettes, honored the 1973-74 State Championship team as players and court namesake coach Roy Cowart were introduced to the crowd, and presented with the state championship banner. A new banner was then unveiled to the crowd to be displayed in the gym.
A pair of Nettes seniors, Bella Hopkins and Caroline Mullins, began the game combining to go on a 10-0 run to give Pickens a 10-0 lead. After a bucket by Aliza Chastain ended the Nettes run, Mullins and freshman Reagan Ludington closed out the first quarter going on a 4-0 run to make it 14-2 Nettes going to the second quarter.
The run by the Nettes kept going as the second quarter started as Hopkins, Ellison Steinhauer, and Mullins contributed to what was a 14-0 run in total to make it 24-2. A basket by Bree Burnette, put an end to that Nettes run. Pickens, would then go on a 9-0 run as Ludington hit a three, Mullins made a pair of free throws, and Ellison Steinhauer made back to back layups to make it 33-4. A buzzer beating three pointer from near half court by Chelsey Griggs would close out the first half as the Nettes led it, 33-7.
The second half began with Madison Bradshaw getting on the board for the Lady Cats as that made it 33-9. The Nettes, would then go on an 8-0 run as Mullins, Brylee Deering, and Ellison Steinhauer all scored during the run to make it 41-9. A three pointer from Sophia Riblet would end that Nettes run and make it 41-12. After a bucket by Hopkins, and a pair of free throws by Mullins, Grace Bramlett would hit a three to make it 45-15. A layup by Mullins would close out the third quarter as they went to the fourth with the Nettes ahead, 47-15.
That layup to end the third quarter sparked what would be a 9-0 run as the fourth quarter got started as Ashaela Buchanan hit a three, and Hopkins made back to back layups to make it 54-15. The Lady Cats, would end the ball game on a 5-0 run as Riblet would connect on another three pointer, and Chastain would make a layup. The Nettes, took this one, 54-20.
Scorers for the Nettes:
Bella Hopkins: 16 points
Caroline Mullins: 16 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 11 points
Reagan Ludington: 5 points
Ashaela Buchanan: 3 points
Brylee Deering: 3 points
Scorers for the Lady Cats:
Sophia Riblet: 6 points
Aliza Chastain: 4 points
Grace Bramlett: 3 points
Chelsey Griggs: 3 points
Madison Bradshaw: 2 points
Bree Burnette: 2 points
7-AAA Region Standings:
Wesleyan: 15-2 (7-0)
Pickens: 19-1 (6-1)
Dawson: 11-8 (4-3)
White County: 15-4 (3-3)
Gilmer: 7-10 (2-5)
Lumpkin: 7-12 (2-5)
West Hall: 0-15 (0-7)
The Nettes, will now have a week to get ready as they begin a four game region road trip on Friday, January 26th as they head up to Dawsonville to take on the Dawson Lady Tigers. Pickens, defeated the Lady Tigers in Jasper back on December 12th. Tip off is set to begin at 7 pm.
Nettes open region play with win at Gilmer
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 6, 2023
Ellijay, Ga — The region portion of the schedule tipped off on Tuesday, December 5th as the Nettes made the trip up 515 to take on the Gilmer Lady Cats in the opening game of the 7-AAA schedule. Coming into the game, the Nettes were 5-0, and ranked 4th in AAA. The Lady Cats, came into the game with a 2-2 record having earned wins over Murray County and Sonoraville. The Nettes, got off to a fast start in this one as they opened region play with a 56-26 win.
In the first quarter, the Nettes started off quickly going on a 13-0 run to begin the game. The Lady Cats got on the board with a bucket to make it 13-2. After a basket by Bella Hopkins, Lucy Ray stepped to the line and hit both free throws to make it 15-4. Reagan Ludington ended the first quarter scoring with a three to make it 18-4 Nettes going to the second quarter.
The Lady Cats, would get on the board first in the second quarter as Bree Burnette made a layup. She would follow up by making the free throw to make it 18-7. Sophia Riblet, would then split a pair of free throws to cut the Nettes lead down to 18-8. A three pointer from Ludington ended the 4-0 run from the Lady Cats to make it 21-8. Riblet, would go back to the line and this time make both free throws to make it 21-10.
The Nettes, would then go on a 7-0 run as Caroline Mullins made a basket and two free throws, and Hopkins hit a three to make it 28-10. Burnette, made a basket and the free throw to cut it to 28-13. The first half ended with Ellison Steinhauer making a bucket as well as two free throws to give the Nettes a 32-13 lead at the half.
Much like the second quarter, the third quarter began with the Lady Cats getting on the board with a basket to make it 32-15. The Nettes, would then go on a 16-0 run. Mullins, Steinhauer, Brylee Deering, and Ludington all contributed to the run. Aliza Chastain ended the big run from the Nettes with a bucket. Mullins, ended the quarter scoring with a layup to make it 50-17 going to the fourth.
The Nettes, began the shortened fourth quarter with a 6-0 run as Hopkins hit two shots and Mullins hit one to make it 56-17. The Lady Cats, would end the game on a 9-0 run to give them some momentum heading into their next game. The Nettes, moved to 6-0, but more importantly, 1-0 in 7-AAA play with the 56-26 win.
7-AAA Region Standings:
3A #4 Pickens: 6-0 (1-0)
3A #2 Wesleyan: 6-1 (1-0)
3A #5 Dawson: 5-2 (1-0)
3A #6 White County: 8-0 (0-0)
Gilmer: 2-3 (0-1)
Lumpkin: 1-5 (0-1)
West Hall: 0-6 (0-1)
The Nettes, will be back in non-region action on Friday, December 8th as they head to Calhoun to take on the Sonoraville Lady Phoenix. The Nettes defeated the Lady Phoenix 74-61 on November 20th as part of the Pickens Thanksgiving Tournament. Tip off for this one is set for 7 pm.