Nettes close out 2023 with tournament championship
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 31, 2023
Panama City, Florida — It was Championship Saturday on Saturday, December 30th as the Pickens Dragonettes took on the Lipscomb Academy Lady Mustangs (TN) in the Aardvark Lawn and Pool Services bracket championship game of the Marlin Christmas Classic Tournament. The Nettes, came in ranked as high as #3 in the 3A classification. The Lady Mustangs, were ranked as high as #6 in the 2A division in Tennessee. The Nettes, after building up an 18 point halftime lead, were able to hold off the Lady Mustangs to pick up a 55-44 victory.
After a slow start by both teams to begin the ball game, Caroline Mullins got the scoring going with a bucket to make it 2-0 Nettes. A basket by Grace Simmons of the Lady Mustangs would tie the game. Bella Hopkins would make a layup and Ellison Steinhauer would hit a pair of free throws to make it 6-2. A layup and free throw make by Bella Shepherd would cut the Nettes lead to 6-5.
After both teams traded buckets, Mullins and Hopkins would combine for an 8-0 run to close out the first quarter and give the Nettes a lead of 18-8 going to the second quarter.
The run continued for the Nettes to begin the second quarter as Steinhauer hit a three, and Mullins would score 5 straight points to make it 26-8. The two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the first half as they would tie with 8 points a piece after the 8-0 run by Pickens to start the second quarter. Going into the half, the Nettes held a 34-16 lead.
Both teams scored a basket each to begin the second half as the Nettes led it, 36-18. From there, the Lady Mustangs, went on their best run of the game up until that point as they would cut the Nettes lead down to 10 with a 10-0 spurt. Hopkins, would close out the third quarter outscoring the Lady Mustangs 7-2 to make it 43-28 going to the fourth.
A three pointer by the Lady Mustangs started the scoring in the fourth quarter to cut the Nettes lead to 43-31. A combined 5-0 run by Hopkins and Steinhauer stretched the lead out to 48-31. After a bucket by each team, the Lady Mustangs would go on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 50-41. Later on, the Lady Mustangs would cut it to 7 after a three pointer from Blake Maple.
The Sophomore, Steinhauer, would be sent to the line down the stretch and she would make four free throws to ice the game and give the Nettes the win, 55-44.
Scorers for the Nettes:
Caroline Mullins: 22 points
Ellison Steinhauer: 17 points
Bella Hopkins: 16 points
With the win, the Nettes close out the 2023 portion of their schedule at 15-0. They will start off 2024 with a good one as they will take on the Model Lady Blue Devils. Model, is currently ranked in the top 10 in the 2A classification at #7. The two teams will play on Saturday, January 6th. Tip off is set for 3 pm.
Nettes advance to championship game at Marlin Christmas Classic
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 29, 2023
Panama City, Florida — The Pickens Dragonettes, are closing out 2023 down at Panama City Beach as they are taking part in the Marlin Christmas Classic Tournament. The tournament, is hosting teams from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and of course, Florida. On Thursday, December 28th, the Nettes defeated Stone Memorial from Tennessee, 68-53 to advance to Friday, December 29th, where they took on the Shelbyville Central (TN) Eaglettes. Down 2 to start the second half, the Nettes used an 18-6 run in the third quarter to help pick up a 49-36 win.
The Eaglettes, got things going to start the ball game as Kate McKamey connected on a jump shot to make it 2-0 early. Bella Hopkins, who hit a single game record 10 three pointers against Stone Memorial, made her first three of the game to give the Nettes a 3-2 lead. Aliyah Singleton and McKamey combined for a 4-0 run to give the Eaglettes a 6-3 lead. Ellison Steinhauer, would nail a corner three to tie the game at 6.
After a bucket by MaKayla Batts, Steinhauer would go on a 4-0 run as the Nettes would take a 10-8 lead. Singleton and McKamey, combined for a 5-0 run to make it 13-10 Eaglettes. A bucket by Hopkins would make it 13-12 Shelbyville Central going to the second quarter.
The Eaglettes, began the second quarter by stretching their lead out to 5 after a basket by Lilly Brown. A three by Reagan Ludington tied the game up at 15. Both teams then saw a scoring drought until Steinhauer split a pair of free throws to give the Nettes a 16-15 lead. After Singleton and Steinhauer traded buckets, McKamey hit a three just before the buzzer to give the Eaglettes a 20-18 lead at the half.
The third quarter, would mostly be controlled by the Nettes. The second half started with Caroline Mullins banking in a shot to get herself going and tie things up at 20. After a bucket by Brown put the Eaglettes ahead 22-20, the Nettes would go on an 8-0 run led by Hopkins and Steinhauer to make it 28-22. Brown, would end the run with a layup to make it 28-24. A pair of free throws by Hopkins made it 30-24 Nettes.
Singleton, would make good on a drive to the basket to cut the lead to 30-26. Back to back three pointers by Steinhauer, including one just before the buzzer, put a bow on an 18-6 quarter run for Pickens to send it to the fourth with the Nettes leading, 36-26.
McKamey, started the fourth quarter with a three pointer to cut the lead to 36-29. A 5-0 run by Mullins and Hopkins stretched the lead out to 41-29. After McKamey made a jumper, Hopkins and Mullins again combined for a 5-0 run to make it 46-31. The Eaglettes, countered with a 5-0 run of their own as Jazmine Western and McKamey helped cut the lead down to 46-36. Steinhauer, would close the game out with three free throw makes to give the Nettes a 49-36 win.
Scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 22 points
Bella Hopkins: 18 points
Caroline Mullins: 6 points
Reagan Ludington: 3 points
With the win, the Nettes advance to the championship game of the Aardvark Lawn & Pool Services Bracket where they will take on the Lipscomb Academy (TN) Lady Mustangs on Saturday, December 30th. The Lady Mustangs, defeated Bartram Trail and Brewster Tech to advance to the championship game. Tip is scheduled for 1 pm, but that is subject to change.