Dragons stay hot with win in region opener
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 7, 2024
Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, welcomed the Chestatee War Eagles to the Dragons Den to begin 6-AAA play on Friday, December 6th. The Dragons, came into the game 5-0 after an undefeated November and ranked 5th in 3A by Kyle Sandy. The War Eagles, may have come into the game 1-4, but they have several players that can get hot at any moment. The Dragons, exploded offensively in the second half as they pulled away for an 84-47 victory.
The War Eagles, began the game with Cody Couch and Sebastian Spinelli hitting back to back threes to take a 6-0 lead. After a slow start by the Dragons offense, Senior Brock Barton, would then go on a 7-0 run to give the Dragons a 7-6 lead. Ethan Dunn, would put an end to the run with a basket to make it 8-7 War Eagles. Caleb Lanford, would then give the Dragons a one point lead with a bucket.
Spinelli, would hit his second three of the quarter to give the War Eagles an 11-9 lead. The Dragons, would then go on a 9-0 run led by the Davis brothers, and Barton to give the Dragons an 18-11 lead. Dunn, would cut the lead to 5 to make it 18-13 Dragons heading to the second quarter.
Jamin Martin and Parker Davis, would start the second quarter with a 5-0 run to make it 23-13 Dragons. A three by Elian Salcido, would trim the lead to 7. After a 5-0 run by Barton and Martin, the Dragons lead expanded to 28-16. Spinelli, would convert the rare four point play as he hit the three and the free throw to make it 28-20. After McCord Purdy split a pair of free throws, Spinelli would hit another three to make it 29-23.
A 5-0 run by Lanford would make it 34-23 Dragons. A three by Nazir Dixon would end the run and make it 34-26. Purdy, would end the first half with a three to make it 37-26 heading to the break.
The Dragons, would start the second half with a 9-0 run as Barton would hit a three, then Lanford would hit back to back threes to make it 46-26. Spinelli, would make a pair of free throws to end the run. A 10-0 run by the Dragons would stretch the lead out to 56-28. Dixon, would end the run with a bucket to make it 56-30. After the two teams traded baskets, the War Eagles would make several free throws in a row to make it 62-37.
As the clock drained down at the end of the third quarter, Montego Morgan sliced through the defense for the layup to make it 64-37 Dragons heading to the fourth.
Barton, opened up the scoring in the fourth with a basket to make it 66-37. The two teams, would again trade buckets until the Dragons would go on a 9-0 run to make it 81-43. A basket by Dixon, would end the run and make it 81-45. Parker Davis, would hit a three to make it 84-45. Dunn, would end the scoring with a bucket as the Dragons would come away with a 84-47 win.
Leading scorers for the Dragons:
Caleb Lanford: 22 points
Brock Barton: 19 points
Dodge Davis: 15 points
Jamin Martin: 9 points
Parker Davis: 7 points
McCord Purdy: 7 points
Montego Morgan: 5 points
6-AAA Region Standings:
Pickens: 6-0 (1-0)
North Hall: 4-2 (1-0)
Lumpkin: 4-3 (1-0)
Dawson: 1-8 (1-0)
GAC: 4-3 (0-1)
Chestatee: 1-5 (0-1)
White County: 1-6 (0-1)
Johnson, Gainesville: 0-6 (0-1)
The Dragons, will head to Lumpkin on Tuesday, December 10th to take on the Indians in another 6-AAA battle. The Indians, led by Georgia Tech football signee Cal Faulkner, picked up a big win at GAC to open their region schedule. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons end November with Thanksgiving Classic Tournament win
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 27, 2024
Jasper, Ga — The Pickens Dragons came into their game against the King’s Academy Knights on Tuesday, November 26th looking for a perfect month of November and a Pickens Thanksgiving Classic Tournament win. The Dragons, would outscore the Knights, 53-17 in the second half to come away with a 94-49 win.
The Dragons, would win the tip, Brock Barton would find Dodge Davis, and much like the game on Monday, Davis would slam it home to make it 2-0. After a three pointer by Roger Willson, Dodge Davis would make a layup to give the Dragons a 4-3 lead. A bucket by Bryson McCleskey, would give the Knights a 5-4 lead. The Dragons, answered with a 5-0 run by Caleb Lanford and McCord Purdy to make it 9-5. After a basket by Cole Bennett cut the lead down to two, Parker Davis would make a layup to push the lead back to four.
After the Davis brothers split a pair of free throws, Ty Gangster would hit a three to make it 13-10. A pair of free throws from Parker Davis would stretch the lead to 15-10. The Knights, would go on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to just one. A 4-0 run from the Dragons to end the first quarter, Gave Pickens a 19-14 lead heading to the second.
Bennett, began the second quarter by splitting a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to four. A 6-0 run by the Dragons would extend the lead out to 25-15. A three by Brooks Thrasher would end the run and cut the lead to 25-18. After Barton split a pair of free throws, Gangster, would make both of his free throws to cut the lead to 26-20. A three by Charlie Wohlers, would cut the lead to three. Purdy, would make a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to five.
Wohlers, would hit another three to once again make it a two point game. Purdy and Barton, would combine for a 4-0 run to make it 32-26. After Bennett split a pair of free throws, Barton would make a three to give the Dragons a 35-27 lead. Bennett, would again split a pair of free throws to make it 35-28. A 5-0 run by the Dragons would make it 40-28. Bennett, would make a layup to cut the lead to ten.
After Purdy would split a pair of free throws, McCleskey would make both of his to close out the first half. Heading into the break, Pickens led The King’s Academy, 41-32.
The Dragons, would begin the second half by going on a 5-0 run to stretch their lead out to 46-32. After Bennett would make a pair of free throws, the Dragons, would go on another 5-0 run to make it 51-34. Bennett, would hit a three to make it 51-37. Dodge Davis, would then make back-to-back baskets as the Dragons led it, 55-37. A three by Thrasher would make it 55-40. A third 5-0 run by the Dragons in the quarter would stretch the lead out to 60-40.
A bucket by Gangster would make it 60-42. The Dragons, would then go on an 8-0 run as they got baskets from Jamin Martin, Parker Davis, Lanford, and Camden Jones during the run. A three pointer by Asa Goings would put an end to the run and make it 68-45. Lanford, would close out the third with a three pointer to make it 71-45 going to the fourth.
The fourth quarter started with the Dragons going on a 16-0 run to extend their lead out to 87-45. Bennett, would put an end to the run and get the Knights on the board in the fourth with a bucket. The Dragons, would then go on a 7-0 run to make it 94-47. A basket by Wohlers would give us a final score of 94-49.
All Tournament Selections:
Caleb Lanford
McCord Purdy
Tournament MVP:
Dodge Davis
Scoring leaders for the Dragons:
McCord Purdy: 28 points
Dodge Davis: 22 points
Caleb Landford: 17 points
Brock Barton: 10 points
Parker Davis: 10 points
Montego Morgan: 3 points
Camden Jones: 2 points
Jamin Martin: 2 points
The Dragons, will now rest up and get ready for 6-AAA play as they will host the Chestatee War Eagles on Friday, December 6th. Tip off is set for 8:30 pm.
Dragons fall short against War Eagles
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports October 12, 2024
Gainesville — The temperatures were finally dipping down into “football weather” as the Pickens Dragons traveled to Gainesville to take on the Chestatee War Eagles. The Dragons and War Eagles, were facing off for the first time in football since 2009. The War Eagles, came in riding a two game win streak in the series, and were coming off a big win over Johnson last week. The Dragons, looked to end their three game road trip on a high note after a tough loss to North Hall two weeks ago.
The War Eagles, would use their triple option offense to pull away and pick up the win, 37-14.
The Dragons would win the toss, and elect to receive the opening kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, the War Eagles would tip and intercept the pass. Chestatee, would turn that into points as they scored a 23-yd TD run. The PAT was good and with 10:47 left in the first quarter, the War Eagles led the Dragons, 7-0. Later on in the first quarter, the War Eagles added to their lead with a 19-yd TD run. Going to the second quarter, Chestatee led it, 13-0.
Dragons on defense in the 1st quarter
Both teams would go back and forth in the second quarter as points were hard to come by. The War Eagles, would connect on a field goal as time expired in the quarter to take a 16-0 lead over the Dragons at the half.
Dragons on offense in the 2nd quarter
The second half would begin with the War Eagles adding to their lead with a 10-yd TD run. With 7:08 left in the third quarter, Chestatee led Pickens, 23-0. The Dragons, would get on the board after a 28-yd TD pass from Hayden Jones to McCord Purdy. The PAT by Purdy was good, and with 3:33 left in the third, the War Eagles led the Dragons, 23-7. The War Eagles, would respond with a 2-yd TD run to make it 30-7 going to the fourth quarter.
Dragons looking to stop the run in the 3rd quarter
The War Eagles, would add a 2-yd TD run at the 5:26 mark to make it 37-7. The Dragons, would add a second score as Jones would connect with Carson Mitton in the corner of the end zone for a 5-yd TD to make it 37-14. The War Eagles, would run out the rest of the clock as they would get the win, 37-14.
Hayden Jones looking for a receiver
6-AAA Football Region Standings:
North Hall: 5-2 (4-0)
GAC: 3-4 (3-1)
Lumpkin: 5-2 (3-1)
Chestatee: 3-4 (2-2)
Dawson: 3-4 (2-2)
White County: 2-5 (1-3)
Pickens: 3-4 (1-3)
Johnson-Gainesville: 0-7 (0-4)
The Dragons, will be back home next week as they host the Knights of Johnson-Gainesville on Friday, October 18th. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2015. The Dragons, are currently riding a 4-game win streak in the series and lead the all time series 8-6.
Dragons fall short in come back attempt at North Hall
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 29, 2024
Gainesville, Ga — It was a rare Saturday afternoon football game as weather from Hurricane Helene forced many games to be moved to Saturday, September 28th. One of those games happened to be the Pickens Dragons and North Hall Trojans. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2017, and the first time Pickens had gone to North Hall since 2016. The Dragons, would make it a two point game in the fourth, but the Trojans would pull away in the end, 43-27.
The Dragons, would pull a little trick out of their hat to start the game as McCord Purdy executed a perfect pooch kick. The Dragons would recover, and have the ball deep inside Trojan territory. The drive would stall as the Trojans would force a turnover. After the Dragons defense got a stop on the Trojans first possession, the Dragons offense drove down the field, and on 4th and goal from the 1-yd line, Hayden Jones would score with a touchdown run. The PAT was good, and with 4:01 left in the first quarter, Pickens led North Hall, 7-0.
On their next possession, the Trojans would answer with a 19-yd TD run. The Trojans, would then see an opening on the PAT attempt as they would convert the two-point conversion to make it 8-7 heading into the second quarter.
Dragons looking to punch it into the end zone
The Trojans, would add to their lead in the second quarter as they would connect on a long pass for a touchdown on 3rd and long. The PAT was good and with 9:10 left in the first half, North Hall led Pickens, 15-7. The Dragons, would come back and respond as Jones’ pass was deflected, but fell right into the arms of Landon Poole and he took it the rest of the way for a 20-yd touchdown. The Dragons would choose to go for, and make the PAT to make it 15-14.
The Trojans, would respond with a pair of scores before the first half came to an end as North Hall led Pickens, 29-14 at the break.
Dragons on defense in the 2nd quarter
The Dragons, would get the ball first to start the second half looking to cut into the Trojans lead. They would be able to do that as Jones found Purdy for a 43-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and the Dragons pulled back within a score as North now led it, 29-21. That would be the only points scored in the third quarter as the Dragons had the ball and were driving to begin the fourth quarter.
Jones would run for a first down
40 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Dragons struck as Jones broke loose for a 45-yd TD run, Pickens, would go for two to try and tie the ball game. The try would come up just short and with 11:20 left to go in the game, the Trojans led the Dragons, 29-27. North Hall, responded with a touchdown of their own to make it 36-27 with just over 6 minutes left in the game.
The Trojans, would get a turnover on downs on the Dragons next possession. On the next play, North Hall would score on a 37-yd TD pass to make it 43-27, The final from the brickyard, North Hall 43, Pickens 27.
Dragons looking to stop a pass play
The Dragons, like most of the region, will have next week off. Pickens, will have two weeks to get ready for the final stretch of the season as they will be on the road again on Friday, October 11th as they head back to the Gainesville area to take on the Chestatee War Eagles. The Dragons and War Eagles will be meeting for the first time since 2009. Pickens, leads the overall series 4-2, however Chestatee has won the last two meetings. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.