Jasper, Ga — The AAA Girls State Basketball Tournament began on Tuesday, February 24th as the Pickens Dragonettes, hosted the Upson-Lee Lady Knights. The Nettes, came into the tournament as the #6 seed. The Lady Knights, came into the tournament as the #27 seed. After a back and forth first quarter, the Nettes, were able to pull away to pick up the win, 68-39 to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Lady Knights, would get things started with a three by Ja’Kalah Holmes. Freshman Darbi Stanley, answered that with a three of her own to tie the game. After a bucket by Holmes, Stanley and Ellison Steinhauer, would give the Nettes the lead after back to back baskets. Holmes, carrying the Lady Knights early on, would hit her second three of the quarter to make it 8-7.

Jamiya Carthon, would then complete an and-1 play to put the Lady Knights up 11-7. Back to back buckets by Steinhauer, would tie the game at 11. Holmes, would hit her third three of the quarter to put the Lady Knights up 14-11. Reagan Ludington, would end the first quarter on a 6-0 run as she would hit a three, and then complete an and-1 play to make it 17-14 Nettes heading to the second quarter.

Bree Jewell, would open the scoring in the second quarter as her three would put the Nettes up 20-14. Back to back buckets from Kynzlee Harris and Shatavia King, would cut the lead down to 20-18. Stanley, would complete an and-1 play to make it 23-18. That would kick off a 13-0 run to end the first half as Tania Rivera, Stanley, and Steinhauer would contribute to the run. At the break, the Nettes were out in front, 33-18.

The Lady Knights, would get a basket from Lakyzhia Miller to open the second half. Rivera, would then hit three and then complete an and-1 play to make it 39-20. A three by Stanley, would add a three to make it 42-20. Jabria Riddle, would split a pair of free throws to end the run. Miller, would score her second basket of the quarter to cut the lead to 42-23. Stanley, would hit another three to make it 45-23.

Miller, leading her team in the third would hit a jumper to make it 45-25. Steinhauer, would then start a 9-0 run with 7 straight points. Freshman Khloe Pruett, would cap off the run with a layup to make it 54-25. A pair of free throws by Miller, would end the run and make it 54-27 heading to the fourth quarter.

Harris, would get the fourth quarter going with a bucket to make it 54-29. Skyler Lathem, would get into the score book with a corner three to make it 57-29. After a layup by Stanley, Carthon and Holmes, would answer with their own 5-0 run as the Nettes led it, 59-34. Pruett, would end the run with a pair of free throws. Pruett, would then be rewarded for running the floor as she would make a layup to give the Nettes a 63-34.

Ruby Flatt, would take advantage of a fast break opportunity and hit a three that had the home crowd on their feet. Riddle, would end the run with a three to make it 66-37. Elin Porio, would do a good job of getting an offensive rebound and finishing with a put back layup to make it 68-37. A late jumper by King, would give us a final score of 68-39.

Leading scorers for the Nettes:

Darbi Stanley: 19 points

Ellison Steinhauer: 17 points

Tania Rivera: 9 points

Reagan Ludington: 6 points

Khloe Pruett: 6 points

Ruby Flatt: 3 points

Bree Jewell: 3 points

Skyler Lathem: 3 points

Elin Porio: 2 points

The Nettes, will now await their Sweet 16 opponent. They will host the winner of the North Hall/Troup County match up. Troup County, hosts North Hall on Wednesday, February 25th. Stay tuned for updates on opponent, date, and time.