Jasper, Ga — It’s state tournament time in Georgia for basketball as the Pickens Dragonettes hosted the Coahulla Creek Lady Colts in the first round of the AAA State Tournament on Wednesday, February 21st. Coming into the game, the Nettes were the #2 seed out of region 7, and ranked 4th in AAA. The Lady Colts, were the #3 seed out of region 6, and came in with a record of 18-8. The Nettes, got 26 from Sophomore Ellison Steinhauer as they picked up a 71-46 win.

 

The Lady Colts, got the opening tip, and got fouled on their opening possession. Shea Poe, would split a pair of free throws to give the Lady Colts a 1-0 lead. Caroline Reed, would add to the lead after a nice cut to the basket for the layup to make it 3-0. With the shot clock winding down, Steinhauer, was fouled on a three point attempt. She would go 2-3 from the line to cut the Lady Colts lead down to 1.

After a steal on the defensive end by Caroline Mullins, she took the length of the floor for the layup to give the Nettes a 4-3 lead. Mullins, would get the defensive rebound after the Lady Colts possession and again sprint down the court for another layup to make it 6-3. A baseline drive by Reed for the lay in ended the 6-0 run for the Nettes and cut the lead down to 6-5.

Bella Hopkins, would get in on the action with her first points of the night as she nailed a three to make it 9-5. Steinhauer, would hit her first three of the night soon after, to push the lead to 12-5. Aubree Langley, would end the run with a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 12-7. A second three pointer by Hopkins would make it 15-7 Nettes going to the second quarter.

 

After a pair of fouls on the Lady Colts to begin the second quarter, Mullins, got the scoring started as she collected an offensive rebound and hit a jumper to make it 17-7. The Lady Colts, would then go on a 7-0 run with Poe, Lilah Brooker, and Karis Hurt all contributing to cut the lead down to 17-14. The Nettes, would respond with a 7-0 run of their own as Steinhauer and Mullins would make two free throws and Hopkins would hit her third three to make it 24-14. A three by Poe would cut the lead to 24-17.

Steinhauer, would head back to the line after she was hip checked while shooting a three. She would make all three free throws to increase the lead back to 10. A three by Brooker would make it 27-20. Mullins, would score the last points of the first half with a floater just inside the free throw line to give the Nettes a 29-20 lead at the half.

 

The third quarter started with Hopkins hitting her fourth three of the game to make it 32-20. After a three by Presley Denton cut the lead back to 9, Mullins would make a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 11. Poe and Steinhauer, would then exchange three point makes as the Nettes led, 37-26. A layup by Hurt would cut the lead back to single digits. A pair of free throws by Steinhauer would push the lead right back to 11.

After a little back and forth from both teams, the Nettes would go on an 8-0 run to close out the third quarter with Bella Martin, Mullins, and Steinhauer all contributing. Going to the fourth quarter, the Nettes led it, 55-34.

 

The fourth quarter began with a 5-0 run from Poe and Hurt to cut the lead to 55-39. After a three by Reagan Ludington, Poe would make another three to cut the lead to 58-42. The Nettes, would then go on a 7-0 run as Mullins would make back to back layups and Steinhauer would make three straight free throws to extend the lead to 65-42. A basket by Langley would end the run and make it 65-44.

The Bella’s, would then hit back to back threes as Bella Martin made her second three of the game and Bella Hopkins would make her fifth three of the game to increase the lead to 71-44. A late bucket by Kayden Stuckey would make it 71-46. The Nettes would run out the rest of the clock and they would advance to the AAA Sweet 16 with a 71-46 victory.

 

Scorers for the Nettes:

Ellison Steinhauer: 26 points (4 threes, 12-13 from the free throw line)

Caroline Mullins: 21 points (5-6 from the free throw line)

Bella Hopkins: 15 points (5 threes)

Bella Martin: 6 points (2 threes)

Reagan Ludington: 3 points (1 three)

 

The Nettes, will now look ahead to their match up in the Sweet 16 as they will take on the Hebron Christian Lady Lions. The Lady Lions, are 26-2 on the season, ranked as the #1 team in AAA, and the #11 team in the nation. Tip off is set for Friday, February 23rd at 6 pm.