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.