Pickens girls show sharp shooting and leadership as basketball season officially begins; first tournament set for Thanksgiving Classic
The Nettes and Dragons basketball seasons are officially underway. Pickens hosted Christian Heritage for a scrimmage on Tuesday, November 11th. The friendly confines of Roy Cowart Court were good to both programs as they evaluated strengths and weaknesses in a full scrimmage setting. While the score was unofficial and strategy varied, the Nettes showcased impressive perimeter shooting, knocking down 12 three-pointers in the contest.
Head Coach Jordan Shaw, now in his second season, used the scrimmage to rotate through a variety of lineups. The team is led by lone senior Ellison Steinhauer — an All-Region, All-State, and 1,000-point scorer. She anchors a squad supported by juniors with varsity experience, including Ruby Flatt, Caleigh Hoffard, Bree Jewell, Skyler Lathem, Reagan Ludington, and Tania Rivera. Underclassmen currently dressing varsity are Sophia Adams, Darbi Stanley, Aubrey Phelps, and Khloe Pruitt.
Over the weekend, the Nettes participated in the Kyle Sandy Showcase at Sequoyah, drawing a tough matchup against Lamar County. The Lady Trojans featured significant size, with three players over 6’0”, and their starting post player coming off a scrimmage performance of 35 points and 19 rebounds.
The first half remained tight, with Pickens taking a 24–23 lead into the locker room. Lamar County opened the second half with eight straight points in the paint and never relinquished the lead, ultimately defeating Pickens 60–46. Cold perimeter shooting made it difficult for the Nettes to keep pace.
Still, there were positive takeaways from the opener. Pickens committed only nine turnovers while forcing 15. Skyler Lathem went 4-for-4 from the field, providing solid scoring inside. Steinhauer opened her season with a double-double in points and rebounds.
The team will travel to Fannin on Tuesday before returning home to host the Pickens Thanksgiving Classic over the break.
Games will be played Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, with the Nettes and Dragons taking the floor at 6:00 and 7:30 each night. Two earlier contests will be held at 3:00 and 4:30 daily for participating teams. Come out and enjoy some holiday hoops.
