Dragons fall to Fannin after tough fourth quarter
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 19, 2025
Blue Ridge, GA — The Pickens Dragons, were on the road for their second game of the season as they took on the #8 ranked team in A D-I, the Fannin Rebels on Tuesday, November 18th. The Dragons, were coming off a tough season opener against South Paulding. The Rebels, were set to tip off their season in front of their home crowd. A big fourth quarter for the Rebels, led to an 81-64 win.
The beginning of the ball game, saw Kolton Kaylor and Matthew Ponton go on a 5-0 run. A little floater by Aiden Mumaw, would cut the lead to three. After a bucket by Tyler Blake and a free throw make by Ponton, the Rebels led it, 8-2. Mumaw, would again hit a little jumper inside the lane to make it 8-4. DJ Mitchell, would then hit a three to cut the lead down to one.
A bucket and an and-1 by Keaton Watkins, would make it 11-7. Avrey Angel, would follow that with an and-1 play of his own to make it 14-7. The Dragons, would have a strong close to the first quarter as they outscored the Rebels, 11-6 as Fannin took a 20-18 into the second quarter.
The Dragons, were able to force some turnovers in the second quarter, which led to scoring opportunities for Mitchell, Mumaw, Brody Bryant, Cam Jones, and Jonah Jordan. The Dragons, would outscore the Rebels, 20-13 in the second quarter to pull ahead heading into halftime, 38-33.
A 4-0 run by Blake to start the second half, would cut the lead down to one. The Dragons, would counter that as Mitchell and Bryant combined to go on an 8-0 run to give Pickens a 46-37 lead. After a pair of baskets by Kaylor, Bryant, would hit a big three to make it 49-41. The Rebels, would once again cut into the lead after back to back buckets from Blake and Watkins.
Mitchell, would answer with a three to make it 52-45. Brody Henson, Watkins, and Kaylor, would help the Rebels retake the lead with a 9-0 run. The Dragons, would get a bucket just before the end of the third to tie things up at 54 going to the fourth.
The fourth quarter, started out differently for both teams as several turnovers by the Dragons, helped lead to a 10-0 run by the Rebels as they led it, 64-54. A layup by Jedidiah Lanford, would end the run and make it 64-56. After a three by Kolby Kaylor, Lanford, would make another basket as the Rebels were in front, 67-58. After an 8-0 run by the Rebels, Bryant, would hit a three to make it 75-61.
A 6-0 run by the Rebels, would stretch the lead out to 81-61. A late three by Mitchell, would make it 81-64. The final in Blue Ridge, Fannin 81 Pickens 64.
The Dragons, will be home starting on Saturday, November 22nd as they participate in the PHS Thanksgiving Classic. Pickens, Darlington, Chattahoochee, and Whitfield Academy will all be involved in the round robin format. The Dragons, will battle Whitfield academy on Saturday. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons advance to Marlin Christmas Classic Championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 30, 2023
Panama City, Florida — The Pickens Dragons are closing out 2023 and ringing in 2024 down in Panama City Beach, Florida participating in the Marlin Christmas Classic Tournament. Teams from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and even Kentucky are all competing in this three day tournament. On Thursday, December 28th, the Dragons took on St. Paul’s Episcopal High School (AL) and came away with a 79-38 win. On Friday, December 29th, the Dragons battled the host school, the Arnold Marlins (FL), and advanced to the finals with an 82-39 victory.
The first quarter started with the Dragons going on a 10-0 run as Parker and Dodge Davis made layups, and McCord Purdy and Hayden Jones made back to back three pointers. The Marlins, would cut the lead to 4 as Roman Howell would go on a personal 6-0 run to make it 10-6. The Dragons would counter with a 6-0 run of their own as Dodge Davis got the 3-point play the hard way, and Caleb Lanford hit a three to make it 16-6.
After a bucket by the Marlins and a free throw make by Parker Davis, Conner Chandler made a jump shot to cut the Dragons lead to 17-11. A 4-0 run by Jones and Jamin Martin made it 21-11 Dragons going to the second quarter.
Pickens, would really take over in the second quarter as they began the frame with a 5-0 run as Nathan Wallace made a three and Lanford made a layup to make it 26-11. After a pair of free throws by Howell ended the run, the Dragons would go on an 18-0 run to stretch the lead out to 44-13. Dodge and Parker Davis, Wallace, and Jones all contributed to the run. A pair of free throws by Chandler would end the run.
Parker Davis, ended the first half by making a layup and hitting the ensuing free throw to make it 47-15 Dragons going into the half.
Jones, started the second half with a layup to make it 49-15. Will Cotter, scored the first points of the second half for the Marlins with a layup to make it 49-17. After a three pointer by Purdy, the Marlins would go on a 5-0 run as Finn Lewis would hit a three, and Chandler would make a pair of free throws. The Dragons, would then go on a 9-0 run as Wallace made a three, and Dodge Davis and Purdy made baskets to make it 61-22.
After both teams traded buckets, Cam Jones made a layup just before the buzzer to make it 66-26 Dragons going to the fourth quarter.
Parker Davis, got the final quarter going with a layup to make it 68-26. After a three pointer by the Marlins Drew Moseley, the Dragons would go on a 5-0 run with Wallace hitting another three, and Parker Davis making a layup to give Pickens a 73-29 lead. Later on in the quarter, Chandler and Lewis would make back to back three pointers to make it 75-37. Montego Morgan and Wallace would also hit back to back threes to make it 81-37.
As the clock was running down, Howell would hit a pair of free throws and then Aiden Mumaw would split a pair of free throws to give the Dragons an 82-39 victory.
Scorers for the Dragons:
Parker Davis: 19 points
Nathan Wallace: 15 points (5 threes)
Dodge Davis: 13 points
McCord Purdy: 11 points
Hayden Jones: 9 points
Caleb Lanford: 7 points
Montego Morgan: 3 points
Cam Jones: 2 points
Jamin Martin: 2 points
Aiden Mumaw: 1 point
The Dragons, will take on the Jordan Christian Prep Seahawks in the RoMo Photo Bracket Championship game on Saturday, December 30th. The tip is set for 4:00 on Saturday afternoon, but that is subject to change.