Dahlonega, Ga — It was semifinal Thursday on February 15th as the Pickens Dragonettes took on the Dawson Lady Tigers for a spot in the 7-AAA Region Championship game. These two teams split their two regular season meetings with the home team getting the win on those occasions. Behind big games from Bella Hopkins and Caroline Mullins, the Nettes picked up a 67-45 win over the Lady Tigers.

 

The Lady Tigers, got things going to start the ball game with a three from Kindra Coker to give them an early lead. After a tough layup by Hopkins to cut the lead to 1, Morgan Chester and Abby Samples-Slaton would make back to back layups to stretch the lead to 7-2. A three by Hopkins would cut the lead to 7-5. After a bucket by Eva Bishop, the Nettes would go on an 8-0 run with Hopkins and Mullins to take the lead, 13-9.

A three by Samples-Slaton would cut the lead down to 1. The Nettes, would end the first quarter with a 5-0 run as Mullins made a layup, and Hopkins hit her second three to make it 18-12 going to the second quarter.

 

Hopkins, continued her offensive onslaught to begin the second quarter as she hit a three, and completed an and-1 play to make it 24-12. Bishop, broke what ended up being an 11-0 run by the Nettes with a basket to cut the lead to 10. The Nettes, would answer with an 8-0 run as Bella Martin would hit a three, then Ellison Steinhauer would make back to back layups and a free throw to make it 32-14.

A 4-0 run by Bishop and Chester would cut the lead down to 32-18. After a basket by Steinhauer, Chester would go on a 4-0 run to make it 34-22. Back to back threes from Hopkins closed out the first half as the Nettes took a 40-22 lead into the break.

 

Bishop, started the second half with a bucket to make it 40-24. Mullins would answer back with a layup of her own. After Steinhauer split a pair of free throws, Ava Roberson would get her name into the score book with a layup to make it 43-26. Hopkins, would then score her first points of the second half to make it a 19-point game. The two teams would then trade baskets as Martin would hit her second three to make it 52-32.

The Lady Tigers, would end the third quarter on a 6-0 run as Chester, Anna Ayers, and Heather Burt would help cut the lead down to 52-38 going to the fourth.

 

After a couple of fouls and turnovers by both teams, Steinhauer began the fourth quarter scoring with a three to make it 55-38. Hopkins, would then complete an and-1 to make it 58-38. Samples-Slaton, would end the 5-0 run with a bucket to make it 58-40. A 5-0 run from Martin would give the Nettes a 63-40 lead. A three by Coker would cut the lead to 63-43.

Mullins, would make back to back layups to make it 67-43. Chester, would score the final points of the game with a layup as the Nettes come away with the 67-45 victory.

 

Scorers for the Nettes:

Bella Hopkins: 27 points (5 threes)

Caroline Mullins: 16 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 13 points

Bella Martin: 11 points

 

The Nettes, will now turn their focus to Saturday, February 17th as they face off against the Wesleyan Lady Wolves for the 7-AAA Region Championship. Wesleyan defeated the White County Lady Warriors 87-55 to advance to the region title game. Tip off is set for 6 pm and will be played at Lumpkin.