Second-half defense guides Tigers to second round
Dawson Co. Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, Tigers Basketball February 24, 2021
The Dawson Co. Tigers defeated the North Murray Mountaineers 56-35 on Tuesday night in Dawsonville. Down 25-22 at halftime, Dawson Co. stepped up on the defensive end, holding the Mountaineers to only 10 points in the second half.
Sophomore Jaden Gibson advances the ball up the floor.
Senior Max Tierney led the Tigers in scoring with 19 points and gathered 14 rebounds. Senior Jake Craft scored 14 points, and sophomore Jaden Gibson chipped in 11 points.
Dawson Co. struggled to hit their normal barrage of threes in the first half and trailed 25-22 because of it. To open the second half, Craft made sure things would be different. He hit a 3-pointer to open up an 8-0 run for the Tigers. Tierney scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter.
Up six heading into the 4th, Dawson Co. stepped up and put the game away. Craft scored 9 points in the first 4 minutes, and the Tigers outscored North Murray 18-3 in the quarter.
Dawson Co. advances to the second round of the GHSA 3A state basketball tournament and will host the winner of Salem and Oconee Co. on Friday.
Tigers falls to Cherokee Bluff on the road
Dawson Co. Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports, Tigers Basketball February 3, 2021
The Dawson Co. Tigers lost to the Cherokee Bluff Bears 76-63 on Tuesday night in Flowery Branch.
Senior Jake Craft drives into the lane.
The Bears applied full court pressure the entire game, forcing Dawson Co. to commit plenty of turnovers.
The Tigers were led in scoring by senior Jake Craft, who finished with 21 points. Sophomore Jaden Gibson added 15 points and 6 assists, and senior Tyler Lane recorded a double-double with exactly 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Tigers finish out the regular season this Friday, as they travel to play at West Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Tigers run past North Hall for region victory
Dawson Co. Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports, Tigers Basketball January 29, 2021
The Dawson Co. Tigers defeated the North Hall Trojans 67-50 on Friday night in Dawsonville. Dawson Co. created plenty of easy scores for themselves as they recorded 18 steals as a team.
Senior Jake Craft scored 15 points for the Tigers.
The Tigers were led by senior Joakeim Celestin, who scored 24 points and recorded 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Sophomore Jaden Gibson scored 15 points and had 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Senior Jake Craft scored 15 points and recorded 4 steals.
The Tigers travel to play at Cherokee Bluff high school on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Tigers fall to Alcovy 57-50 on senior night
Dawson Co. Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports, Tigers Basketball December 5, 2020
Dawson Co. struggled to get their offense going early, as they trailed 25-13 at the end of the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, Craft hit three consecutive three-pointers to swing momentum in the Tigers’ favor. They trailed 37-29 at halftime.
Celestin opened up the second half with a dunk that began a 7-2 run to close the gap. The rest of the game remained intense and both teams played with plenty of energy. However, Dawson Co. wasn’t able to narrow the lead. They lost 57-50.
Senior Joakeim Celestin lays the ball up for the Tigers.
It was also senior night for Dawson Co.
The seniors recognized were:
Jake Craft
Joakeim Celestin
Max Tierney
Ty Whitmire
Tyler Lane
Dakohta Sonnichsen
Luke Smith
Dawson Co.’s next game will be Tuesday, as they host White Co. at 7:30 p.m.
New Tigers make statement in first game with Dawson Co.
Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports November 21, 2020
The Dawson Co. Tigers fell to the Creekview Grizzlies 72-70 in the first game of the 2020 Raider Classic Thanksgiving tournament at North Forsyth. Senior Jake Craft scored 32 points in his debut for the team, and fellow senior transfer Joakeim Celestin scored 15 points in his debut.
With three transfers, a new head coach, and no returning starters, this season’s Dawson Co. team looks very different from last season’s Region 7-3A championship team.
Senior Max Tierney rises up for the dunk.
You wouldn’t be able to tell it was the team’s first game together if you watched them play.
New head coach Todd Cottrell’s offense got off to a hot start, scoring 37 points in the first half. They were led by senior transfers Craft and Celestin scored 15 points and nine points. Senior Max Tierney also eight points in the first half, including an emphatic dunk that was a huge momentum swing for the Tigers. Unfortunately, the defensive energy didn’t match the offense, as they trailed 38-37 at halftime.
Both teams stayed hot offensively in the second half. However, it was Creekview that gained control of the momentum and the lead. Down six with eight seconds left in regulation, Craft was fouled on a three-point shot that he hit, which cut the lead to only two points. After the Grizzlies missed their free throw, the Tigers’ three point shot at the buzzer was no good. They lost the game 72-70.
Dawson Co. continues tournament play on Monday at 4 p.m. as they play Heritage Conyers high school.
Dawson Co. falls to Cedar Grove 72-69 in first round
Dawson Co. Basketball, Dawson County High School, Sports, Tigers Basketball February 15, 2020
The Dawson Co. Tigers fell to the Cedar Grove Saints in the first round of the 3A state playoffs on Friday night. The Tigers couldn’t get their shots to fall until the fourth quarter. They scored 38 in the final period, but fell just short.
Jasper Gibson pulling up for a jumpshot.
Jasper Gibson led Dawson Co. with 33 points, Campbell Reed had 13 points, and Mason Barnes had 11 points.
The Tigers started off the game with a 9-2 run, which was capped off with a 3-pointer from Gibson. The score from Gibson gave him 2,000 career points. The Saints fought back and led 12-11 at the end of the period.
The second quarter opened up with the teams trading scores, but the Saints ended the period on a 15-2 run to lead 33-20 at halftime.
Dawson Co. opened the second half strong with an 8-2 run, but Cedar Grove responded well again by finishing the quarter on a 13-3 run. They led 48-31 heading into the final period.
The Tigers outscored the Saints 38-24 in the fourth quarter, but fell just short. They hit five 3-pointers in the period, including one from Reed with one second left. The Tigers tried to steal the inbound on the following play, but had to foul and send the Saints to the line. They missed both free throws, but there wasn’t enough time to get a shot up. The Tigers lost the game 72-69.
Campbell Reed defends a Cedar Grove player.
Coach Eric Herrick was proud of his team’s season as a whole, despite the off night.
“We’ve had some of the highest of highs and tonight was the lowest of lows. Great year. You can’t take a region championship away from them. We had an off night when we couldn’t afford to have an off night.”
The loss ends the Tigers’ incredible season at 25-3. They were undefeated in Region 7-3A and won the region tournament.
Big third quarter gives Dawson Co. victory over North Hall
Dawson Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 22, 2020
The Dawson Co. Tigers (20-2, 9-0 Region 7-3A) defeated the North Hall Trojans (15-8, 6-4 Region 7-3A) on Tuesday night 68-43. Playing on the road, the Tigers scored the first 11 points of the second half to take a commanding lead that helped them win the game. Jasper Gibson led the Tigers in scoring with 19 points, while Campbell Reed had 16 points, and Mason Barnes scored 10 points.
Jasper Gibson dribbles the ball up the floor.
The first quarter was a competitive one, with both teams trading scores. By the end of it, the Tigers held on to a narrow 11-9 lead.
Dawson Co. started getting things rolling the second quarter. They used a 9-0 run towards the end of the half to take a 31-20 lead into the break.
Brody Howell drives the ball to the basket.
The Tigers dominated the third quarter. They scored the first 11 points of the quarter to extend their lead past 20, and they never looked back. They led 52-30 at the end of the period.
The fourth quarter was more competitive than the previous, but the Tigers still extended their lead and walked away with a 68-43 victory.
The Tigers play again this Friday as they host Lumpkin Co. (8-14, 4-6 Region 7-3A) at 7:30 P.M.
Dawson Co. boys defeat GAC in defensive battle
Dawson Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports, Tigers Basketball January 14, 2020
The Dawson Co. Tigers (18-2, 8-0 Region 7-3A) defeated the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans (12-6, 5-2 Region 7-3A) 57-39 at home on Tuesday night. The Tigers shrugged off the slow start offensively and scored 39 points in the second half to seal the win.
Four Tigers scored in double digits, with Eli Burress leading the way by scoring 16 points. Jasper Gibson scored 14 points, Mason Barnes scored 12 points, and Campbell Reed had 10 points.
Mason Barnes sizing up the defense.
The first quarter was one of the lowest scoring quarters for the Tigers all season. The Spartans worked hard to deny Gibson the ball, and it slowed the Tigers offense early. Dawson Co. lead 8-6 after the first quarter.
The game remained close and low-scoring in the second quarter. The Tigers finished the period on a 6-0 run to take an 18-12 lead into halftime.
Jasper Gibson driving into the lane.
The Tigers came out of the break scoring much better than the first half. They used a long 14-1 run in the middle of the quarter and lead 32-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
Both offenses were hot in the final period. The Tigers outscored the Spartans 25-19 in the final period and won the game 57-39.
Dawson Co. has another home game this Friday against Denmark at 8:30pm.
White Co. Lady Warriors defeat Dawson Co. 64-56
Dawson Co. Basketball, Dawson County High School, Lady Tigers Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports December 15, 2019
The White Co. girls basketball team took down Dawson Co. 64-56 in the final girls game of the North Georgia High School Showcase on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Dawsonville.
While the game was close throughout, the Lady Warriors (6-5, 2-1 Region 7-AAAA) outscored the Lady Tigers 22-16 in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.
Despite being outscored in the fourth, the Lady Tigers (6-5, 2-1 Region 7-AAA) made a furious run late in the game that almost brought them all the way back into the lead.
Maddie Futch, a junior, led the way for White Co. with 16 points in the game.
White Co.’s Naomi Crumley shoots the 3-pointer over Dawson Co.’s Madison Anglin.
Fellow senior Bentley Cronic scored 14, while junior Dasha Cannon added 12 in the win.
Naomi Crumley also scored in double digits with 10 for the Lady Warriors.
For the Lady Tigers, junior Madison Anglin led with the way with 20 points.
Senior Sophia D’Oliveira added 16 for Dawson, while Marlie Townley, also a senior, had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
White Co. jumped out to the quick lead to start the game, then ended the first quarter on a 7-1 run to take a 13-6 lead.
The Lady Tigers responded with a 6-1 run to open the second quarter and close the gap. The teams traded scores, with White Co. leading 27-24 at halftime.
The second half started off just as even as the first half.
The Lady Tigers were able to take their first lead of the game in the middle of the third quarter after an 8-0 run. The Lady Warriors responded by scoring the final five points of the period to retake the lead, 42-40.
Dawson Co.’s Kirklyn Porter drives on White Co’s Ellie Gearing.
White Co. went on a 7-2 run early in the fourth to gain a bigger advantage quickly. With 5:30 left in the game and the Lady Tigers trailing 51-45, D’Oliveira fouled out of the game. The Lady Warriors took advantage by going on a 6-1 right after. However, Dawson Co. showed heart and didn’t give up. They went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to five. White Co. then scored five of the final seven points of the game to win 64-56.
Both team next play Tuesday, Dec. 17. The Lady Warriors will travel to Chestatee High, while the Lady Tigers will head to Dahlonega to take on region foe Lumpkin Co.
Both games are slated to begin at 6 p.m.
TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week: Mason Barnes, No. 1
Player of the Week, Team FYN Sports, Tigers Basketball November 28, 2019
Junior Mason Barnes moves the ball for the Tigers.
After scoring 53 points, pulling down 14 rebounds, and adding 13 assists during a three-game span last week, Dawson Co. junior guard Mason Barnes is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Tigers!
Dawson Co. (4-1) played in the three-day North Forsyth Thanksgiving Tournament where the team came in third place.
During those three games, Barnes led the team in scoring in two, both of them victories.
Barnes put up a team-high 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a 70-59 win over Creekview in the opening round.
In the 67-62 loss to Cherokee in the second round, Barnes scored 10 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.
Against North Forsyth in the third-place game, Barnes scored a team-high 20 points to go with three rebounds and seven assists.
For his efforts, Barnes in the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Tigers.
TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week: Marlie Townley, No. 15
Lady Tigers Basketball, Player of the Week, Team FYN Sports November 28, 2019
Senior Marlie Townley checks scoreboard during a free throw attempt.
Marlie Townley had a big week for the Lady Tigers basketball team.
The Dawson Co. girls basketball team went 2-1 this past week in the North Forsyth Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the two wins, the senior post player had big games for the Lady Tigers.
Saturday, Nov. 23, Townley had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and eight rebounds in a 69-55 win against Class 4A’s Madison Co.
Townley followed that up by scoring 14, including the free throws in the fourth quarter that iced the game for the Lady Tigers in a 69-60 win against Class 7A’s Brookwood.
The win against Brookwood secured third place for the Lady Tigers (3-3).
For her efforts, Marlie Townley is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Dawson County Lady Tigers.