The Pickens Blue Flame entered their tilt with the Greenville Red Raiders with three consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with four. Pickens walked away with a 47-40 win over Greenville on Tuesday. Given Pickens' advantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked tenth, while Greenville is ranked 98th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Pickens found their leader in underclassman Ava Owens, who dropped a double-double on 22 points and ten rebounds. Owens is absolutely dominating the steal category: she's posted at least two every time she's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Hannah Campbell, who scored nine points along with five steals.
Greenville's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Isabella Castano, who scored 13 points. Another player making a difference was Chloe Briggs, who scored nine points along with seven rebounds.
Pickens' victory bumped their record up to 16-2. As for Greenville, they have not been sharp recently, as they've lost three of their last four games, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-12 record this season.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Pickens will take on Berea at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Berea is hoping to put an end to a five-game streak of away losses. As for Greenville, they will play host again and welcome Greenwood, where tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Greenwood's defense has only allowed 27.8 points per game this season, so Greenville's offense will have their work cut out for them.
