Jasper, Ga — The Dragons Den was filled to the brim on Friday, January 19th as the Pickens Dragons hosted their rivals, the Gilmer Bobcats in a big time 7-AAA match up. Coming into the game, the Dragons were 14-5, 5-1 in 7-AAA play, and riding a 6 game win streak. The Bobcats, came into the game 12-6, and in first place in 7-AAA at 6-0. After a close first quarter, the Dragons outscored the Bobcats, 50-26 the rest of the way to pick up a 65-38 win.

The Bobcats, got things going early as they dumped it inside to their guy in the middle, Jackson McVey, for the first two points of the game. After several missed shots from both teams, the Dragons were able to tie the game up with a jumper by McCord Purdy. McVey, put the Bobcats back in front with a layup. He was then able to convert the free throw to make it 5-2. A nice pass from Parker Davis found a cutting Caleb Lanford, who would score to cut the lead down to one.

A corner three ball by Lanford gave the Dragons their first lead of the night at 7-5. The Bobcats, were able to find an open Kohan Davis under the basket on a fast break and he tied the game up at 7. Parker Davis, hit his first three of the game to make it 10-7. Ryder Wofford, would split a pair of free throws to cut the Dragons lead down to two. A jumper by JD Taylor would tie things up at 10.

A second three pointer by Lanford put the Dragons right back in front, 13-10. A nice drive by Davis, led to a layup that cut the Dragons lead down to one. A nice pass from Lanford found Hayden Jones cutting to the basket for the layup to make it 15-12 as they went to the second quarter.

The second quarter began with good ball movement by the Dragons that led to a second three pointer from Parker Davis that made it 18-12. Keegan Bryant, then drove to the basket, and scored the layup to make it 18-14. After a bit of a scoring drought, Purdy found Jones on an in-bounds play for the layup to make it 20-14. With the shot clock about to expire, Purdy, was able to hit a long three to make it 23-14. McVey, put an end to the run with a layup to make it 23-16.

A missed shot by the Dragons led to an opportunity for the Bobcats to find McVey for his first dunk of the evening to cut the lead down to 23-18. Lanford, kept his hot shooting going as he hit his third three pointer of the first half to make it 26-18. Dodge Davis, followed that up with a three of his own to make it 29-18. Wofford, would then split a pair of free throws to make it 29-19. Montego Morgan, grabbed a missed shot from the Bobcats, drove down the court, and found Dodge Davis for the layup to make it 31-19.

After another great passing display by the Dragons, Lanford would hit his fourth three of the first half to make it 34-19. McVey, would then make a layup to cut it to 34-21. That would be the score heading into the half.

The second half started with Wofford splitting a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to 12. After a missed shot by the Dragons, Wofford, was able to split a pair of defenders to sink the floater to cut the lead to 10. The Dragons, who are always lethal on the fast break, pushed the lead back to 12 after a layup from Jones. After Dodge Davis was able to draw a foul on McVey, he would split the free throws to make it 37-24. A turnover by the Bobcats on the other end, led to a three by Dodge Davis that made it 40-24.

Again, on another fast break chance, Purdy found Lanford driving to the basket for a layup to make it 42-24. A little while later, Purdy made a nice move as he drove to the basket and laid the ball up using an up and under move to avoid McVey’s block attempt to make it 44-24. McVey, put an end to the run with a layup to make it 44-26. Dodge Davis, was at the right place at the right time as he was able to rebound the missed three point attempt from Jones to lay it in and make it 46-26.

McVey, was able to collect a missed shot and dunk it in to make it 46-28. The Dragons, once again took advantage of getting back quickly as Purdy found Parker Davis in the lane for the layup to make it 48-28. After a block by Parker Davis on the other end of the court, Jones found Lanford in transition for the layup to make it 50-28 going to the fourth quarter.

A nice feed from Parker Davis to his brother Dodge for the layup started the scoring in the fourth quarter to make it 52-28. After a pair of turnovers, Bryant, made a layup to cut it to 52-30. A nice drive by Morgan led to a foul. While he was hurt on the drive, Morgan gutted it out, and made both of the free throws to make it 54-30. A corner three by Bryant made it 54-33. Parker Davis, would counter with a three of his own. Bryant, then hit another three to make it 57-36. A jumper at the free throw line by Lanford and a jumper by Purdy made it 61-36.

After a turnover by the Dragons, the Bobcats were able to take it down the court and McVey would finish it off with his third dunk of the game. Parker Davis, jumped in front of the pass attempt and that led to a fast break and it was capped off by Purdy lobbing it up to Parker Davis for the lay in to make it 63-38. After another turnover, those two got another chance to go to work as Purdy tossed the ball off the backboard and Parker Davis threw it down to close out the game, 65-38.

7-AAA Basketball Standings:

Pickens: 15-5 (6-1)

Gilmer: 12-6 (6-1)

Dawson: 11-8 (4-3)

Lumpkin: 9-10 (3-4)

Wesleyan: 8-12 (3-4)

West Hall: 4-13 (2-5)

White County: 4-15 (0-6)

The Dragons, will have the next week to get ready as they begin a 4 game region road trip starting on Friday, January 26th as they take on the Dawson Tigers. The Dragons, defeated the Tigers on December 12th. Tip off set for 8:30 pm.