Pickens is 2-8 against Easley since November of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Pickens Blue Flame will be playing at home against the Easley Green Wave at 6:00 p.m. Pickens will stroll in with a six game home winning streak (dating back to last season), but they should still watch out: the last time they lost at home was their February 3 matchup with Easley.
Last Tuesday, Pickens faced Greenwood in a battle between two of the state's top teams. Pickens sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 38-36 victory over Greenwood. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory Pickens has posted yet this season.
Pickens' success was spearheaded by the efforts of Ava Owens, who scored 13 points along with six steals, and Maggie Chambers, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and 17 rebounds. Owens is absolutely dominating the steal category: she's posted at least two every time she's taken the court this season. Sadie Claire mckinney was another key contributor, scoring seven points along with eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, Easley was able to grind out a solid victory over Greenville on Tuesday, taking the game 39-26. The victory was just what Easley needed coming off of a 52-28 loss in their prior matchup.
Easley's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Olivia Gramblin, who scored 15 points along with two steals. Gramblin continues to roll, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Kimbel Leach, who scored two points along with six rebounds and five assists.
Pickens' win bumped their record up to 14-2. As for Easley, their victory bumped their record up to 7-10.
Pickens and Easley were neck-and-neck in their previous meeting back in February of 2023, but Pickens came up empty-handed after a 39-38 defeat. Can Pickens avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
