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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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.