Gilmer’s season ends at region tournament
The Gilmer High Lady Cats entered last week’s region basketball tournament as the No. 7 seed.
They took on the No. 6 seeded Cherokee Bluff Bears in round one, a team GHS lost to in the final game of the regular season. CBHS came out on top once again and did so this time by a 50-36 margin.
The loss ended Gilmer’s season and snapped a nine year state tournament streak.
The Gaither duo of Timber and Taliah handled nearly all of the Bears’ scoring with 27 and 14 points, respectively.
“We had a hard time matching up with No. 11 (Timber Gaither). She got us on our heels and made it to the basket far too often,” said head coach Susan Nunn, who was without a pair of guards.
“Aliza (Chastain) was covering her (Timber) for part of the time but got in foul trouble early and we had to sit her. (Starting and reserve point guard) Charley Potett and Alaina Miltiades are injured, so I really didn’t have another point guard to go to. We were playing at a deficit without a point guard for sure.
“We had a plan to contain No. 12 (Taliah), but when we had trouble with the other, that broke down as well.”
The Cats shot 25 percent from the field, and CBHS started the game with a 9-0 run. Gilmer got on the board midway through the first with two points from Elly Callihan plus one more from the free-throw line. It sparked a 7-0 run for the Cats. Brooke Wilson scored all six of her points in the quarter to help GHS even the score at 11-all.
Timber Gaither’s 10 second quarter points helped the Bears get some breathing room while GHS made just two shots from the field. Cherokee Bluff opened a 25-18 lead at the half.
Timber took over the Bears’ offense in the third, scoring nine of 11 points. Callihan and Lark Reece teamed up to tally all of the Cats’ points in the third, and the Bears pushed their lead to 36-27 with a quarter to play.
CBHS totaled 32 post points on the day, and that theme continued in the fourth. Callihan was called for a charge for her fourth foul, and was quickly whisted for her fifth moments later on the inbound. She left the game with 4:59 to play with the Cats down by 15, and CBHS went on to win by 14.
Reece led GHS with 13 points and snatched seven rebounds. Callihan scored 10 and finished with 11 boards. Wilson collected seven rebounds, Chastain tallied three points, and both Lucy Ray and Marley Boatwright scored two.
GHS posted a 9-18 overall record and were 3-11 versus region opponents. Reece and Callihan are Gilmer’s only seniors so the bulk of the varsity roster returns next season.
“We knew we were going to have some growing pains,” Nunn said. “With the amount of injuries we had on top of that, it was difficult for us to get in a groove of the same players playing together and feeling like they could get something going.
“We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores who got a lot of playing time. For the future of the program, they’ll be better off for it. I’m very proud of the effort these young girls gave to our program. Elly and Lark were really our only experienced players, and they were great leaders, and I’m proud of how they accepted those young ones to build the program.”
The Cats’ season was highlighted by a 62-48 regular season finale victory over North Hall, who has a 17-9 record. It marked the final home game for Nunn and seniors Callihan and Reece.
“I don’t think that it was anything I said or did in the locker room. I feel like that was probably the leadership of Elly and Lark in the locker room beforehand and them talking to the girls and telling them what they wanted to happen their last game and what they felt like they could do as a team,” Nunn said.
“There was nothing I would change about that day. Every player who stepped on the floor contributed in some way, and it was an amazing day. It was a great way to go out for my last home game and something I’ll never forget.”