Nettes win thrilling State Tournament opener
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 24, 2021
Pickens County — It was win or go home as the Pickens Dragonettes (21-4) welcomed the Stephenson Lady Jaguars (4-14) to the Dragons Den for the first round of the GHSA 4A Girls State Basketball Tournament. Coming into the game, the Nettes were the #1 seed out of region 7 after defeating the Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins on February 19th for the third time this season to capture the 7-AAAA Region Championship. The Lady Jaguars, came in as the #4 seed out of region 6. After a back and forth game, the Nettes overcame a 12 point, fourth quarter deficit to defeat Stephenson 62-59.
In the first quarter, the Lady Jaguars came out firing opening up an early lead. Offensively for the Nettes, it was the Cassidy Richards show as she hit 3 three pointers and scored 12 of the 17 first quarter points for Pickens. After trailing by 7 during the quarter, the Nettes cut the Lady Jaguars lead down to 21-17 going to the second.
Cassidy Richards at the free throw line
The second quarter, was ultra competitive with both teams staying close. Pickens, took their first lead of the game as they used an 18-12 quarter run to send us into the break with the Nettes ahead, 35-33. Pickens got contributions from Bella Howell, Amanda Nelson, Madison Powell, Marlee McClure, Emma Gleason, and Caroline Mullins during the quarter.
Nettes defending the Lady Jaguars
The third quarter, for the most part, belonged to the visiting Lady Jaguars as they were able to reclaim the lead during the frame. Outscoring Pickens 19-11 in the third, Stephenson took a 52-46 lead into the fourth quarter.
Nettes working the ball on offense
In the fourth quarter, things looked troublesome for the home team as the Lady Jaguars doubled their lead up to twelve at a couple of points in the frame. Pickens however, stayed calm. They strung together stops on the defensive side of the court, and came up clutch on the offensive side of the court. Having come all the way back to take a 60-59 lead, the Nettes sent Caroline Mullins to the free throw line with under 10 seconds left. Mullins, stepped to the line, and knocked down both to make it 62-59. Stephenson’s last second attempt to send the game into overtime hit the back of the rim and came down and the Nettes hung on to get the 62-59 win.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Cassidy Richards: 16 points
Caroline Mullins: 11 points
Amanda Nelson: 10 points
Kealy Hillhouse: 7 points
Marlee McClure: 5 points
The Nettes, advance to the sweet 16 where they will host either the #2 seed out of region 5, the Mt. Zion-Jonesboro Lady Bulldogs, or the #3 seed out of region 8, the North Oconee Lady Titans on Friday (time to be determined). Those two teams play on Wednesday, February 24th. This will be the 1st time that a sweet 16 game will be played in Jasper since 1985.
Nettes secure top spot in region tournament
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 13, 2021
Pickens, County Ga — It was ladies night on Friday, February 12th as the Pickens Dragonettes (18-4, 10-2) welcomed the Southeast Whitfield Lady Raiders (2-19, 2-9) in the final game of the 2020-21 regular season. A win for the Nettes would give them the 7-AAAA regular season region title, the #1 seed in next week’s region tournament, and an automatic berth into the 4A Girls State Tournament. Win the Nettes did as they defeated the Lady Raiders, 54-30.
In the first quarter, Pickens got off to a hot start jumping out to a to a double digit lead on Southeast Whitfield. After a combination of good offense and defense, the Nettes took a 21-3 lead over the Lady Raiders going to the second.
Nettes allowed just 3 first quarter points
The scoring in the second quarter was closer as Southeast Whitfield hit several threes during the quarter. Pickens, continued their solid play from the first quarter as they outscored the Lady Raiders, 18-12, to take a 39-15 lead into the half.
Amanda Nelson with the layup
In the third quarter, the theme of the day continued as defense led to offense for the Nettes. Outscoring Southeast Whitfield 14-5, Pickens took a 53-20 lead into the fourth.
Nettes in-bounding the ball late in the third
The Nettes, closed out the regular season on a high note as they picked up their 18th win of the year with a 54-30 victory over the Lady Raiders of Southeast Whitfield.
Leading scorers for the Nettes:
Bella Howell: 12 points
Amanda Nelson: 8 points
Marlee McClure: 8 points
Cassidy Richards: 8 points
Caroline Mullins: 8 points
7-AAAA Girls Region Standings:
Pickens: 18-4 (10-2)
Northwest Whitfield: 11-9 (10-2)
Heritage: 15-7 (8-4)
Cedartown: 13-6 (8-4)
Central-Carroll: 11-14 (4-8)
Southeast Whitfield: 2-19 (2-10)
Ridgeland: 3-20 (0-12)
The Nettes, will be the #1 seed for the girls bracket in next week’s 7-AAAA region tournament. They will next play on Thursday, February 18th at 7 pm. They will play the winner of the game between the 4th and 5th seed. The game will be played at Northwest Whitfield.
Nettes drop region game to Cedartown
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 3, 2021
Pickens County Ga — On February 2nd, the Pickens Dragonettes welcomed the Lady Bulldogs of Cedartown for a big time 7-AAAA match up. It was the Nettes first game in a week after having their game against Southeast Whitfield postponed last Thursday due to Covid issueson Southeast Whitfield’s end. Pickens came in as the second place team in 7-AAAA while Cedartown caqme in as the fourth place team in region play. The Nettes, defeated the Lady Bulldogs 55-50 at Cedartown on January 8th. After a back and forth battle, the Lady Bulldogs came away with a 58-55 win.
In the first quarter, after Cedartown took an early 4-2 lead, the Nettes went on a 10-0 run getting buckets from Reagan Harwood, Marlee McClure, and Kealy Hillhouse to take a 12-4 lead. The Lady Bulldogs went on a 5-3 run to end the first quarter as Pickens took a 15-9 lead going to the second.
Cassidy Richards with the basketball
Much like the first quarter, the Lady Bulldogs got the opening bucket of the second quarter to cut the Nettes lead down to 15-11. The Nettes countered with a 6-0 run to stretch their lead to 21-11. Cedartown countered with a 6-0 run of their own to again cut the lead down to four. Pickens, would outscore the Lady Bulldogs 6-4 the rest of the half to take 27-21 lead into the break.
Nettes defending a quick Cedartown team
In the third quarter, the Lady Bulldogs again had the opening bucket, to cut the Pickens lead down to 27-23. Cassidy Richards, follwed that up with a personal 5-0 run to make it 32-23. After back to back buckets from Cedartown, Bella Howell stretched the Nettes lead to 36-27 after two straight scores. Towards the end of the quarter, the Lady Bulldogs cut the Pickens lead down to 43-40. Hillhouse, got inside on two straight possessions and hit back to back layups to make it 47-40. Cedartown got a late bucket just before the end of the third to make it 47-42 Pickens going to the fourth.
Nettes working for a good shot
To start the fourth quarter, the Lady Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run to tie things up at 47. Hillhouse, again came up big for the Nettes as she went on a 4-0 run to make it 51-47. After a bucket and a free throw cut the Pickens lead down to one, Hillhouse again got a bucket to drop to make it 53-50. Cedartown then when on an 8-0 run to take a 58-53 lead. The Nettes were able to cut it to 58-55, but a big bucket from the Lady Bulldogs made it 60-55. Richards hit a three pointer at the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough as Cedartown came away with a 60-58 win.
7-AAAA Girls Basketball Standings:
Northwest Whitfield: 8-7 (8-0)
Pickens: 15-4 (7-2)
Heritage: 14=5 (7-2)
Cedartown: 12-6 (7-4)
Central-Carroll: 8-13 (2-7)
Southeast Whitfield: 1-17 (1-8)
Ridgeland: 3-17 (0-9)
The Nettes, will be right back at it tomorrow evening as they head to Tunnel Hill to take on the Lady Bruins of Northwest Whitfield. This is a makeup game as the original game on January 22nd, was postponed due to Covid issues at Northwest Whitfield. This will be the Lady Bruins 2nd game back from quarantine. Tip off set for 6 pm.
Nettes ring in new year with road win, continue hot streak
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 6, 2021
Dalton, Georgia — It has been an interesting couple of days in Pickens County. Prior to the Pickens Dragonettes scheduled game against Alpharetta, a decision was made that they will not be going back to in-person learning as planned on January 6th, and that all extracurricular activities would be shut down for the week. A couple hours later, another decision was made to allow the extracurricular activities starting on Tuesday, January 5th. The Nettes came into their game against the Southeast Whitfield Lady Raiders having won 7 straight to close out 2020 and looked to continue that as they started the 2021 portion of the schedule. Continue it they did as they picked up their 9th win of the season, and 4th win in region play, 59-25.
In the first quarter, the Nettes started on an 11-0 run powered by three point makes by Cassidy Richards and Madison Powell, a bucket by Bella Howell, and free throw makes from Amanda Nelson, Kealy Hillhouse, and Carmyn Mullins. After a bucket by Avery Woodson of the Lady Raiders, Pickens got back to back threes from Caroline Mullins and Nelson to make it 17-2. Lisette Gomez of Southeast Whitfield then made two free throws, and that sent us to the second quarter with the Nettes ahead, 17-4.
Amanda Nelson with the steal
In the second quarter, the Nettes got back to back threes from Carmyn and Caroline Mullins to open up the frame. Bella Howell then added another bucket to give Pickens a 25-4 lead. After a bucket from Woodson of Southeast Whitfield, the Nettes closed the half with a 7-0 run led by Reagan Harwood with a bucket, Hillhouse with a three, and Caroline Mullins with a bucket to make it 32-6 Pickens at the half.
Nettes in-bounding the ball under their basket
The third quarter saw a good back and forth between the two teams as Southeast Whitfield saw an improvement in their offense putting up 7 in the frame. The Nettes scored 13 points in the third getting 5 points each from Bella Howell and Richards as well as 3 points from Nelson. Going to the fourth, Pickens continued to lead, 45-13.
Nettes with the breakaway layup
After the Lady Raiders opened the fourth quarter with a three, Marlee McClure of the Nettes came back with 5 points of her own as part of a 7-0 run for Pickens. The Nettes would go on to take this one, 59-25.
Nettes leading scorers:
Bella Howell: 12 points
Amanda Nelson: 9 points
Cassidy Richards: 8 points
Caroline Mullins: 8 points
Carmyn Mullins: 6 points
7-AAAA Girls Basketball Standings:
Pickens: 9-2 (4-0)
Northwest Whitfield: 3-5 (3-0)
Cedartown: 7-1 (2-1)
Central-Carroll: 6-6 (1-1)
Heritage: 7-4 (2-2)
Ridgeland: 1-9 (0-4)
Southeast Whitfield: 0-8 (0-4)
The Nettes, will be on the road again on Friday night as they travel to take on the Cedartown Lady Bulldogs. As you see in the standings above, this could have an impact on the region tournament down the line. Tip off is set for 7 pm.