By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com

PICKENS — Coming off an 0-3 finish at Landrum High School’s Battle at the Border over the holiday break, the Pickens Blue Flame boys’ basketball looked to bounce back against the Next School Eagle Ridge Eagles last week.

The Blue Flame did just that, overpowering the Eagles in an 81-38 win on Jan. 4.

“We needed that confidence-wise, I think,” Pickens head coach Jeff Harrelson said. “We had a good start to the season, but we kind of sputtered for a couple weeks. Any time you can get back on the winning side it helps, especially with region starting next week.”

Propelling the resurgent win was the play of junior forward Coley Gillian. Gillian used his height advantage to make multiple plays down low and even flashed his strong perimeter game by making two three-pointers in a 17-point outing.

“He can and he should hit those,” Harrelson said of Gillian’s outside shots. “He should be dominant down low, too, so I was happy to see him bounce back.”

The Blue Flame flared early, with Gillian picking up seven points in the opening period and Parker Mitchum and Daniel

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