Dragons drop tough game in final seconds to Cherokee Bluff
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 23, 2023
Blue Ridge, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, traveled once again to their second home for the week, Blue Ridge, to take on the Cherokee Bluff Bears on Friday, December 22nd in the final day of the Fannin Holiday Tournament. In a game that went back and forth, it was the Bears that came way with a 48-43 win.
Hayden Jones, began the scoring in the first quarter with a layup to make it 2-0. After the Bears tied it, Caleb Lanford would hit a three pointer to make it 5-2. The Bears, would then answer back with a three of their own to make it 5 all. The Dragons, would then get a pair of free throw makes from McCord Purdy, and another basket from Jones to make it 9-5. A drawn out 8-0 run by the Bears gave them a 13-9 advantage.
Parker Davis, would make a layup to close the gap to 13-11 as they headed to the second quarter.
The Bears would split a pair of free throws and make a layup to stretch their lead to 16-11 to open up the second quarter. Jones and Parker Davis, would combine for a small 4-0 run to cut the lead down to 1. After the two teams traded buckets, the Bears would go on a 7-0 run to take a 24-17 lead. The Dragons, closed out the first half strong with layups from Parker Davis and Montego Morgan, and a pair of free throw makes from Morgan and Purdy.
At the half, Cherokee Bluff held a slim 24-23 lead over Pickens.
Parker Davis, began the second half with a layup to give the Dragons a 25-24 lead. That lead was short lived as the Bears would answer with an 11-0 run to take a 35-25 lead. A 7-0 run by the Dragons helped close the gap before the end of the quarter as Purdy hit a three, and Lanford, and Jones made buckets to cut the lead down to 35-32 going to the fourth.
A three pointer by the Bears opened up the fourth quarter scoring. Purdy, would answer with back to back three pointers to tie the game up at 38. A basket by the Bears gave them a 2 point advantage. A free throw make and then a layup by Purdy gave the Dragons a 41-40 lead. A three pointer by the Bears gave them a 43-41 lead. Jones, would come up clutch and nail a pair of free throws to tie the game back up at 43.
After lets call it, an iffy call on a Dragons in bounds play that turned it over to Cherokee Bluff, the Bears would hit a three to make it 46-43. The Bears, would then intercept the in bounds pass and would make a pair of free throws to seal the 48-43 win.
Scorers for the Dragons:
McCord Purdy: 14 points (A-Tournament team)
Hayden Jones: 10 points
Parker Davis: 8 points (All-Tournament team)
Caleb Lanford: 7 points
Montego Morgan: 3 points
The Dragons, will close out 2023 in Panama City, Florida as they will be taking part in the Marlin Christmas Classic. The tournament starts on Thursday, December 28th. The Dragons, will start the tournament against St. Pauls High School. Tip off is set for 4:30 pm.
Nettes finish Fannin Holiday Tournament 3-0
PHS Basketball, Team FYN Sports December 23, 2023
Blue Ridge, Ga — For the third and final time this week, the Pickens Dragonettes traveled up to Blue Ridge to take part in the final day of the Fannin Holiday Tournament on Friday, December 22nd. The Nettes, took on the Lady Warriors of North Cobb. The Nettes, were able to pull away in the fourth quarter to come away with a 47-34 win and improve to 12-0 on the season.
The Nettes, jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead to start the first quarter after a three pointer by Bella Hopkins and a layup by Brylee Deering. The Lady Warriors, would cut the lead to 3 after a pair of free throws. Ellison Steinhauer, would score the last 5 points of the quarter after she hit a three, and then a pair of free throws. Going to the second quarter, the Nettes led, 10-2.
The Lady Warriors, began the second quarter with a layup to make it 10-4. Caroline Mullins, would then go on a 5-0 run as she made a layup and a three pointer back to back to make it 15-4. Both teams would go back and forth trading buckets for the bulk of the rest of the first half. Steinhauer, hit a pair of free throws to close out the first half and gave the Nettes a 21-11 lead at the break.
Both teams would trade baskets to begin the third quarter as the Nettes continued to lead it, 24-14. A 5-0 run by the Lady Warriors cut the lead down to 5. Steinhauer, would end the run as she would make a bucket and hit a free throw to make it 27-19. The Lady Warriors, would close out the third quarter on a 5-2 run to cut the Nettes lead down to 29-24 heading to the fourth.
A three point play by the Lady Warriors started the scoring in the fourth quarter as they cut the Nettes lead to 29-27. Back to back three pointers from Hopkins and Steinhauer helped stretch the lead to 35-27. After a three by the Lady Warriors cut the lead back down to 5, Steinhauer would make a pair of free throws, and Reagan Ludington would connect on a three pointer to make it 40-30.
Both teams would then trade buckets as the Nettes led 42-34. The Nettes, closed out the game on a 5-0 run as Steinhauer hit a three, and Mullins made a pair of free throws to give Pickens the 47-34 win.
Scorers for the Nettes:
Ellison Steinhauer: 21 points
Caroline Mullins: 11 points
Bella Hopkins: 10 points
Reagan Ludington: 3 points (All-Tournament team)
Brylee Deering: 2 points (All-Tournament team)
With the win, the Nettes improved to 12-0 on the season. Pickens, will close out 2023 in Florida as they head down to Panama City to take part in the Marlin Christmas Classic. The tournament will begin on Thursday, December 28th as the Nettes will take on the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers from Crossville, Tennessee. Tip off scheduled for 2:30 pm.