Dragons fall to Fannin after tough fourth quarter
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 19, 2025
Blue Ridge, GA — The Pickens Dragons, were on the road for their second game of the season as they took on the #8 ranked team in A D-I, the Fannin Rebels on Tuesday, November 18th. The Dragons, were coming off a tough season opener against South Paulding. The Rebels, were set to tip off their season in front of their home crowd. A big fourth quarter for the Rebels, led to an 81-64 win.
The beginning of the ball game, saw Kolton Kaylor and Matthew Ponton go on a 5-0 run. A little floater by Aiden Mumaw, would cut the lead to three. After a bucket by Tyler Blake and a free throw make by Ponton, the Rebels led it, 8-2. Mumaw, would again hit a little jumper inside the lane to make it 8-4. DJ Mitchell, would then hit a three to cut the lead down to one.
A bucket and an and-1 by Keaton Watkins, would make it 11-7. Avrey Angel, would follow that with an and-1 play of his own to make it 14-7. The Dragons, would have a strong close to the first quarter as they outscored the Rebels, 11-6 as Fannin took a 20-18 into the second quarter.
The Dragons, were able to force some turnovers in the second quarter, which led to scoring opportunities for Mitchell, Mumaw, Brody Bryant, Cam Jones, and Jonah Jordan. The Dragons, would outscore the Rebels, 20-13 in the second quarter to pull ahead heading into halftime, 38-33.
A 4-0 run by Blake to start the second half, would cut the lead down to one. The Dragons, would counter that as Mitchell and Bryant combined to go on an 8-0 run to give Pickens a 46-37 lead. After a pair of baskets by Kaylor, Bryant, would hit a big three to make it 49-41. The Rebels, would once again cut into the lead after back to back buckets from Blake and Watkins.
Mitchell, would answer with a three to make it 52-45. Brody Henson, Watkins, and Kaylor, would help the Rebels retake the lead with a 9-0 run. The Dragons, would get a bucket just before the end of the third to tie things up at 54 going to the fourth.
The fourth quarter, started out differently for both teams as several turnovers by the Dragons, helped lead to a 10-0 run by the Rebels as they led it, 64-54. A layup by Jedidiah Lanford, would end the run and make it 64-56. After a three by Kolby Kaylor, Lanford, would make another basket as the Rebels were in front, 67-58. After an 8-0 run by the Rebels, Bryant, would hit a three to make it 75-61.
A 6-0 run by the Rebels, would stretch the lead out to 81-61. A late three by Mitchell, would make it 81-64. The final in Blue Ridge, Fannin 81 Pickens 64.
The Dragons, will be home starting on Saturday, November 22nd as they participate in the PHS Thanksgiving Classic. Pickens, Darlington, Chattahoochee, and Whitfield Academy will all be involved in the round robin format. The Dragons, will battle Whitfield academy on Saturday. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons get over .500 after defeating Rebels
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports November 29, 2023
Jasper, Ga — After a tough game against the Creekview Grizzlies last week, the Pickens Dragons came into their game against the Fannin Rebels on Tuesday, November 28th looking to get back over .500. The Rebels, were looking to get their season started off on the right foot with a road victory. The Dragons, were able to pull away in the second half to secure a 75-45 victory.
The first quarter started off as a turnover fest for both teams early on. Dodge Davis split a pair of free throws to give the Dragons a 1 point lead. The Rebels, took their first lead after a layup by Cole Gribble. After the two teams traded buckets, the Dragons would go on a small 4-0 run as McCord Purdy hit a three and Caleb Lanford made a basket to make it 15-11 Pickens. Ben Bloch, hit two free throws to cut the lead to two.
Just before the buzzer went off to end the first quarter, Purdy got off a corner jumper and got the kind home bounce to make it 17-13 Dragons going to the second.
Parker Davis, got the scoring started in the second quarter as his bucket made it 19-13. The Rebels would cut into the lead after Jordan Richardson split a pair of free throws and Gribble made a layup to make it 19-16. A 4-0 run by Parker Davis stretched the lead out to 23-16. Richardson, would hit a three to end the mini run and cut the lead to four. The Dragons, would then go on a 10-0 run as Dodge Davis, Hayden Jones, and Purdy all contributed to the run.
The Rebels, got another three from Richardson out of a time out and Bloch split a pair of free throws to make it 33-23. Jones would get the final bucket of the first half as the Dragons went into the break up 35-23.
To start the second half, Kolton Kaylor hit a three to cut the lead to nine. After both teams traded baskets, Purdy went on a 5-0 run to make it 42-28. Later on in the third, Lanford matched Purdy with a 5-0 run of his own. After Bloch ended the run with a three, Purdy again beat the buzzer as he nailed a three to make it 51-33 Dragons going to the fourth.
Dodge Davis got the scoring going for the Dragons in the fourth with a pair of free throws. After a bucket by Bloch, Nathan Wallace got his first points with a three to make it 56-35. Purdy and Lanford, hit back to back three pointers to make it 62-37. After Dodge and Parker Davis traded baskets, Jamin Martin got his name in the score book with a layup to make it 72-41. The Rebels, ended the Dragons run as Keaton Watkins and Matthew Ponton both made a pair of free throws to make it 72-45.
Montego Morgan closed out the scoring for the night as he hit a three to also get his name in the score book as the Dragons moved to 3-2 on the season winning 75-45.
Scoring for the Dragons:
McCord Purdy: 26 points
Caleb Lanford: 12 points
Dodge Davis: 12 points
Parker Davis: 10 points
Hayden Jones: 7 points
Montego Morgan: 3 points
Nathan Wallace: 3 points
Jamin Martin: 2 points
The Dragons, will be back in action on Tuesday, December 5th as they head up to Ellijay to take on the Gilmer Bobcats to begin 7-AAA play. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.