Dragons drop tough game in final seconds to Cherokee Bluff
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 23, 2023
Blue Ridge, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, traveled once again to their second home for the week, Blue Ridge, to take on the Cherokee Bluff Bears on Friday, December 22nd in the final day of the Fannin Holiday Tournament. In a game that went back and forth, it was the Bears that came way with a 48-43 win.
Hayden Jones, began the scoring in the first quarter with a layup to make it 2-0. After the Bears tied it, Caleb Lanford would hit a three pointer to make it 5-2. The Bears, would then answer back with a three of their own to make it 5 all. The Dragons, would then get a pair of free throw makes from McCord Purdy, and another basket from Jones to make it 9-5. A drawn out 8-0 run by the Bears gave them a 13-9 advantage.
Parker Davis, would make a layup to close the gap to 13-11 as they headed to the second quarter.
The Bears would split a pair of free throws and make a layup to stretch their lead to 16-11 to open up the second quarter. Jones and Parker Davis, would combine for a small 4-0 run to cut the lead down to 1. After the two teams traded buckets, the Bears would go on a 7-0 run to take a 24-17 lead. The Dragons, closed out the first half strong with layups from Parker Davis and Montego Morgan, and a pair of free throw makes from Morgan and Purdy.
At the half, Cherokee Bluff held a slim 24-23 lead over Pickens.
Parker Davis, began the second half with a layup to give the Dragons a 25-24 lead. That lead was short lived as the Bears would answer with an 11-0 run to take a 35-25 lead. A 7-0 run by the Dragons helped close the gap before the end of the quarter as Purdy hit a three, and Lanford, and Jones made buckets to cut the lead down to 35-32 going to the fourth.
A three pointer by the Bears opened up the fourth quarter scoring. Purdy, would answer with back to back three pointers to tie the game up at 38. A basket by the Bears gave them a 2 point advantage. A free throw make and then a layup by Purdy gave the Dragons a 41-40 lead. A three pointer by the Bears gave them a 43-41 lead. Jones, would come up clutch and nail a pair of free throws to tie the game back up at 43.
After lets call it, an iffy call on a Dragons in bounds play that turned it over to Cherokee Bluff, the Bears would hit a three to make it 46-43. The Bears, would then intercept the in bounds pass and would make a pair of free throws to seal the 48-43 win.
Scorers for the Dragons:
McCord Purdy: 14 points (A-Tournament team)
Hayden Jones: 10 points
Parker Davis: 8 points (All-Tournament team)
Caleb Lanford: 7 points
Montego Morgan: 3 points
The Dragons, will close out 2023 in Panama City, Florida as they will be taking part in the Marlin Christmas Classic. The tournament starts on Thursday, December 28th. The Dragons, will start the tournament against St. Pauls High School. Tip off is set for 4:30 pm.
Dragons keep things rolling with 5th straight win
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 22, 2023
Blue Ridge, Ga — On Thursday, December 21st, the Pickens Dragons traveled back up to Blue Ridge for the second day of the Fannin Holiday Tournament to take on the Adairsville Tigers. The Dragons, came in winners of four straight including Tuesday, December 19th against the hosting Fannin Rebels. The Tigers, were coming off of a big win over the Sonoraville Phoenix on Friday, December 15th. The Dragons, stayed hot as they picked up their 5th straight win, 50-37.
Dodge Davis got the scoring started as he gave the Dragons an early lead. Later on in the first quarter, with the game tied at 4, the Dragons would go on a 9-0 run as McCord Purdy hit a three, Dodge Davis made a layup, and Purdy hit back to back shots to make it 13-4. A layup by the Tigers ended the run to make it 13-6. Dodge Davis, would end the quarter with a layup to make it 15-6 Dragons going to the second quarter.
The second quarter began with both teams scoring a bucket as the Dragons led 17-8. There wasn’t much scoring after that for both teams as both offenses stalled a bit. The Dragons, finished the first half on a 4-0 run as Parker Davis and Hayden Jones both made layups to make it 24-10 Pickens at the half.
The Dragons, would go on a 5-0 run to begin the second half as Parker Davis made a layup and Purdy hit another three to make it 29-10. The Tigers, would then hit back to back three pointers to make it 29-16. After a bucket was made by each team, the Dragons went on a 7-0 run as Dodge and Parker Davis both made layups, and Nathan Wallace hit a three to make it 38-19. An 8-0 run by the Tigers cut the lead down to 38-27.
Jones and Purdy hit back to back three pointers to close out the third as the Dragons led the Tigers 44-27 going to the fourth.
The run that started at the end of the third quarter, kept going as the fourth quarter began as Purdy again made his way to the basket to make it 46-27. The two teams then went back and forth for a bit, trading buckets. The Tigers, closed out the game on a 5-0 run, but the Dragons came away with the win, 50-37.
Scorers for the Dragons:
McCord Purdy: 15 points
Parker Davis: 12 points
Dodge Davis: 8 points
Hayden Jones: 7 points
Nathan Wallace: 6 points
Caleb Lanford: 2 points
The Dragons, will head up the road to Blue Ridge for the third and final time this week as they take on the Cherokee Bluff Bears on Friday, December 22nd. Tip time set for 5:30 pm.