Jasper, Ga — In front of a packed out Dragons Den, the #3 ranked team in 3A, the Pickens Dragonettes, took on their rivals from up the road, the Gilmer Lady Cats, on Friday, January 19th. Coming into the game, the Nettes were 18-1, and 5-1 in 7-AAA play. The Lady Cats came into the game with a 7-9 record and 2-4 in 7-AAA play. The Nettes, would jump out to an early lead and never look back as they picked up a 54-20 win to earn the in-season sweep.

Prior to the game beginning, Pickens High School and the Nettes, honored the 1973-74 State Championship team as players and court namesake coach Roy Cowart were introduced to the crowd, and presented with the state championship banner. A new banner was then unveiled to the crowd to be displayed in the gym.

A pair of Nettes seniors, Bella Hopkins and Caroline Mullins, began the game combining to go on a 10-0 run to give Pickens a 10-0 lead. After a bucket by Aliza Chastain ended the Nettes run, Mullins and freshman Reagan Ludington closed out the first quarter going on a 4-0 run to make it 14-2 Nettes going to the second quarter.

The run by the Nettes kept going as the second quarter started as Hopkins, Ellison Steinhauer, and Mullins contributed to what was a 14-0 run in total to make it 24-2. A basket by Bree Burnette, put an end to that Nettes run. Pickens, would then go on a 9-0 run as Ludington hit a three, Mullins made a pair of free throws, and Ellison Steinhauer made back to back layups to make it 33-4. A buzzer beating three pointer from near half court by Chelsey Griggs would close out the first half as the Nettes led it, 33-7.

The second half began with Madison Bradshaw getting on the board for the Lady Cats as that made it 33-9. The Nettes, would then go on an 8-0 run as Mullins, Brylee Deering, and Ellison Steinhauer all scored during the run to make it 41-9. A three pointer from Sophia Riblet would end that Nettes run and make it 41-12. After a bucket by Hopkins, and a pair of free throws by Mullins, Grace Bramlett would hit a three to make it 45-15. A layup by Mullins would close out the third quarter as they went to the fourth with the Nettes ahead, 47-15.

That layup to end the third quarter sparked what would be a 9-0 run as the fourth quarter got started as Ashaela Buchanan hit a three, and Hopkins made back to back layups to make it 54-15. The Lady Cats, would end the ball game on a 5-0 run as Riblet would connect on another three pointer, and Chastain would make a layup. The Nettes, took this one, 54-20.

Scorers for the Nettes:

Bella Hopkins: 16 points

Caroline Mullins: 16 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 11 points

Reagan Ludington: 5 points

Ashaela Buchanan: 3 points

Brylee Deering: 3 points

Scorers for the Lady Cats:

Sophia Riblet: 6 points

Aliza Chastain: 4 points

Grace Bramlett: 3 points

Chelsey Griggs: 3 points

Madison Bradshaw: 2 points

Bree Burnette: 2 points

7-AAA Region Standings:

Wesleyan: 15-2 (7-0)

Pickens: 19-1 (6-1)

Dawson: 11-8 (4-3)

White County: 15-4 (3-3)

Gilmer: 7-10 (2-5)

Lumpkin: 7-12 (2-5)

West Hall: 0-15 (0-7)

The Nettes, will now have a week to get ready as they begin a four game region road trip on Friday, January 26th as they head up to Dawsonville to take on the Dawson Lady Tigers. Pickens, defeated the Lady Tigers in Jasper back on December 12th. Tip off is set to begin at 7 pm.