Nettes fall to Wesleyan; will be #4 seed in upcoming region tournament
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 10, 2023
Jasper, Ga — After a big region win over 3A #5 White County last Friday, the Pickens Dragonettes looked for another one on Tuesday, February 7th as they welcomed the #3 team in 3A, the Wesleyan Lady Wolves. Wesleyan, defeated the Nettes earlier in the season, so the Nettes were looking to split the season series and move up in the region standings. In what was a good game overall, the Lady Wolves pulled away in the end and came away with a 58-46 win.
In the first quarter, the Lady Wolves got the scoring going with a basket by Audrey Ekoue-Bla to make it 2-0. Caroline Mullins, responded with a bucket to tie things up, then Ellison Steinhauer made a pair of free throws to give the Nettes a 4-2 lead. After a layup by Johanna Potter tied things up again, Bella Hopkins gave Pickens the lead back with a basket to make it 6-4 Nettes. Wesleyan, then went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 11-6.
A three pointer by Steinhauer cut the lead down to 11-9. Potter, answered with her own three pointer to make it 14-9. Ellie Hollis, cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 2 with a three pointer making it 14-12. After a timeout, the Lady Wolves went on a 5-0 run to stretch the lead out to 19-12. A bucket by Mullins cut the Wesleyan lead down to 19-14 as we headed to the second quarter.
Wesleyan opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run to make it 23-14. A basket by Hopkins ended the run to make it 23-16. Both teams then traded baskets as the Lady Wolves continued to lead, 25-18. Wesleyan, would then go on an 8-0 run to stretch the lead to 33-18. Emma Gleason, ended the run and also ended the first half scoring with a layup to make it 33-20 Lady Wolves going into the half.
Much like both the first and second quarters, Wesleyan opened the scoring in the third quarter with a layup by Potter to make it 35-20. After a bucket by Mullins, Eva Garabadian, made her first two point shot as she made a pair of three point shots in the first half. Mullins, then went on a 4-0 run to cut the Lady Wolves lead down to 37-26. A basket by Londyn Walker ended the mini Mullins run and made it 39-26 Wesleyan. Stienhauer, again made a pair of free throws to cut it down to 11 once again, 39-28.
Chazadi Wright, made a layup to make it 41-28. The Nettes, then went on a 5-0 run as Hopkins hit a three and then got to the basket for the lay in to make it 41-33. Walker, ended the Hopkins run with a bucket to make it 43-33. A three by Steinhauer cut it to 43-36 with just a few seconds left in the third. That would be enough time for Garabadian to hit her third three of the game just before the horn sounded at the end of the quarter to make it 46-36 Wesleyan going to the fourth.
The Lady Wolves, made it 4-4 starting the quarter scoring as Desiree Davis made a layup to stretch the lead to 48-36. Pickens, then answered with a 5-0 run as Mullins got the shot to go and Steinhauer hit a three to cut the lead to 48-41. Walker, would end the run by making the layup and then completing the and-1 making it 51-41. Mullins, made her first three of the game to cut it down to 7, 51-44. Walker and Steinhauer then traded buckets and it remained a 7 point game, 53-46. After a timeout was called by Wesleyan with under a minute to go in the game, the Nettes had to go into foul mode. The Lady Wolves, were able to hit some free throws at the end of the game to get the 58-46 win.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Caroline Mullins: 17 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 15 points
Bella Hopkins: 9 points
Ellie Hollis: 3 points
Emma Gleason: 2 points
The Nettes, are locked in as the #4 seed in next week’s 7-AAA region tournament. They will take on the #5 seed Dawson Lady Tigers on Monday, February 13th at 4:30 for a chance to go to the 3A State Tournament. There’s still one more regular season game left before that as Pickens will travel to West Hall to take on the Lady Spartans on Friday, February 10th. Tip off is set for 6 pm.
Nettes get big win over 3A #5 White County
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 4, 2023
Jasper, Ga — After a tough loss to the #2 team in 3A and the defending state champions in 3A, the Lumpkin County Lady Indians on Tuesday, January 31st, the Pickens Dragonettes looked to rebound at home as they took on another top 5 ranked region foe, the White County Lady Warriors. Their first meeting earlier in the season came down to a last second shot in overtime as the Lady Warriors picked up the win at their place. The Nettes, got a great team effort and earned a 56-44 victory over White County.
In the first quarter, the Lady Warriors got the scoring started with a layup by Claire Beckman. Caroline Mullins, tied the game up with a layup and Ellison Steinhauer split a pair of free throws to give the Nettes their first lead of the game at 3-2. Mullins, extended the lead with her second bucket of the game to make it 5-2. Beckman, ended the 5-0 run with another layup to cut it to 5-4. After Mullins split a pair of free throws, White County went on their own 5-0 run as Chandler Weaver made a basket and Naomi Roberts hit a three to make it 9-6.
Pickens, ended the first quarter with a 6-0 run as Steinhauer made a layup, Madison Powell hit a three pointer, and Mullins split a pair of free throws to make it 12-9 Nettes going to the second quarter.
Nettes on offense early on
Steinhauer, kept the momentum from the first quarter going as she opened the second quarter with a bucket to make it 14-9. Weaver, hit a pair of free throws to cut the Pickens lead down to 14-11. Emma Lightsey, got her first points of the game with a three to tie things up at 14. Aaliyah Anderson gave the Lady Warriors the lead back with a basket to make it 16-14. Steinhauer, made both free throws to tie it back up at 16. Roberts, retook the lead for White County with a layup, then Lightsey, hit her second three pointer of the quarter to make it 21-16.
After Bella Hopkins got her first points of the game with a layup, Lightsey, made her third three pointer of the quarter to make it 24-18 Lady Warriors. Mullins and Hopkins then combined for back to back baskets to cut it down to 24-22. Roberts, split a pair of free throws just before the end of the first half to make it 25-22 White County heading into the break.
Nettes on defense against White County
Mullins, began the second half with a layup to cut the Lady Warriors lead down to 25-24. Lightsey, continued her hot shooting night with her fourth three pointer of the game to make it 28-24. Another bucket for Mullins cut it down to 28-26. Both teams then traded baskets and that made it 32-28 White County. The Nettes, would then go on a run. Steinhauer, would get the hoop and the harm as she completed the and-1 to make it 32-31.
Emmie Moore, then hit a three pointer for her first points of the game to make it 34-32 Pickens. Lightsey, not to be outdone, hit her second three pointer of the quarter and her fifth overall just before the end of the frame to give the Lady Warriors a 35-34 lead going to the fourth.
Nettes running an inbounds play
The Nettes, took the lead to start the scoring in the fourth quarter as Mullins hit a three pointer to make it 37-35. After several fouls, Mullins split a pair of free throws to make it 38-35. White County, then went on a 5-0 run as Roberts made the shot and the free throw to tie it up, and Weaver gave the Lady Warriors the lead with a bucket to make it 40-38. Ellie Hollis, tied the game back up as she got the layup to go. That layup to tie the game would spark Pickens to go on a game changing run.
That layup started what would end up being a 13-0 run as Mullins, Steinhauer, and Hopkins all contributed points after the Hollis layup to make it 51-40. Maci Shelnut, ended the run with a basket to make it 51-42. Steinhauer, then made a pair of free throws to make it 54-42. Roberts, made a pair of free throws for White County to make it 54-44. Steinhauer, then finished the game with another pair of free throws to give the Nettes a 56-44 win.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Caroline Mullins: 21 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 21 points
Bella Hopkins: 6 points
Emmie Moore: 3 points
Madison Powell: 3 points
Ellie Hollis: 2 points
The Nettes, will be back in action again on Tuesday inside the Dragons Den as they face a third straight top ten team in 3A and another region opponent in the Wesleyan Lady Wolves. Wesleyan, won the first match up earlier in the season at their place, and Pickens will look to earn the split. Tip off set for 6 pm.