The Gilmer Bobcats picked up one more region win last week ahead of this week’s tournament.
After suffering lopsided losses to the North Hall Trojans and Cherokee Bluff Bears earlier this season, the Bobcats made much better showings this time around. GHS hosted North Hall Tuesday, and the Cats fell just short at the end, 56-52.
Gilmer was on the road Friday and beat the Bears for the first time over the past two seasons, 50-47.
NHHS made timely three pointers in the second half and secured offensive rebounds down the stretch to seal its win. Head coach Jordan Hice noted some of the main differences from when the teams met initially.
“We came out a lot better and more confident than the first time we played. We didn’t have too many turnovers in the press and handled that well, which was a key,” he said. “North Hall puts a lot of pressure on your guards. They don’t have all day to make a decision, and they kind of took away our inside game. The guards stepped up and did their job.”
The teams got off to a slow start as NHHS limped ahead 5-3 after five minutes of play. Both teams were bolstered by a pair of three pointers, and the Trojans led 12-11 after the first.
Bobcat Ethan Banks fueled Gilmer’s offense in the second with 10 points. Lewis Mulkey and Jackson McVey scored in the post, and a NHHS three at the buzzer gave the Trojans a 31-28 led to end the half.
North Hall made three consecutive three pointers to begin the third for a 9-0 run. Mark Tyson, Mulkey and Banks all scored close-range baskets for GHS. Following a pair of Tyson free throws, North Hall’s lead stood at a point, 42-41.
Gilmer trailed 44-41 to begin the fourth. Will Kiker hit a three pointer with 3:05 left in the game to give GHS a 50-49 edge.
Ahead 52-51 with under 30 seconds to play, GHS lost the lead for good. On an inbound play, an inadvertent whistle sounded. Play was not stopped as Gilmer players froze and the Trojans kept playing. A Robert Terry offensive rebound, putback and free throw allowed NHHS to regain the lead, 54-52, with 11 seconds to play.
GHS was forced to foul, and the Trojans missed the front end of a one and one. However, a Bobcat turnover gave North Hall the ball back with 2.7 seconds, and they made two more free throws for the win.
“Defensively, we switched it up and went to a 2-3 zone,” Hice said. “That team is too fast for us to keep up with in man to man. We tried to contain them and weather the storm of their threes. The first time we lost by 40, and we needed to put ourselves in position to win, which we did.
“We had two good chances to take the lead. We missed a wide open three and had a turnover after their missed free throw.”
Mulkey scored 20 points for GHS and grabbed nine rebounds. Banks added 12 points and five boards.
Gilmer’s closely contested game versus Cherokee Bluff came down to three pointers. The Bears fired 31 two-point attempts compared to 26 threes. However, they only made five from beyond the three-point arc.
McVey (18 points), Banks (11) and Cade Carter (10) led the way offensively for GHS. The Cats fell behind by a point after the first, and tied the score at 22-22 at the break. CBHS led 33-32 with eight minutes to play.
Carter saved his best for the final quarter. His 10 points helped GHS overtake the Bears and come away with the three-point win.
“It was really good to get the win, and the main thing was getting some confidence going into the region tournament,” Hice said. “We played really close against North Hall and they beat us pretty bad before, same thing with Cherokee Bluff. Those are the only teams in the region who beat us pretty bad the first time we played them.
“To be able to close that gap was a big booster for confidence. The kids get a little more confidence going into the region tournament.”
McVey was also the Cats’ top rebounder with seven, and both Banks and Carter collected six.
The Bobcats are the three seed heading into this week’s region tournament. Gilmer will host the winner of West Hall versus Lumpkin County Thursday at 7:30 p.m.