The Gilmer Bobcats are off to a 2-0 start versus region opponents.
GHS began last week at home Tuesday versus archrival Pickens. The Bobcats weathered the Dragons’ barrage of three pointers and staved off a late rally for a 76-71 victory.
The Cats ended the week Saturday at home against Fannin County. The visiting Rebels also had success from outside, but the Bobcats’ depth and athleticism were too much for Fannin. GHS put the game away in the second half and improved to 5-2 on the season with a 76-59 win.
The Bobcats’ victory over Pickens was a contrast in styles. GHS often went inside to Jackson McVey, and also had success driving to the basket. Meanwhile, Pickens continually passed along the perimeter to find its open three-point shooters.
“I didn’t think our first half was that bad,” head coach Jordan Hice said. “With a team shooting that many threes and not just making that first pass, but second pass and third pass, they passed past our coverage. We rotated the best we could. They got some open shots and made some hard ones.
“The big thing was we wanted to keep running up and down the floor and maybe they’ll get tired. I think they kind of died down a little bit. Our guards were 0/8 in the first half (from three-point range) and we needed to step up and start hitting some outside shots. That was probably where the game changed.”
Sixteen of McVey’s team-high 31 points came in the first quarter, which included the Bobcats’ first eight. Keegen Bryant slashed through the lane for six points in the first, and Pickens hit four threes to keep pace.
The Cats led by two after a quarter. GHS did not attempt any threes in the first but fired eight ahead of halftime and missed them all. McVey was limited to three points, and Pickens made a trio of threes to move ahead at halftime, 44-37.
Gilmer’s guards took over in the third. Bryant, Jacob Becerra, Ryder Wofford, Kohan Davis and J.D. Taylor combined to score 20, which included nine points from three-point land. Pickens’ outside shooting went cold, and Gilmer opened a 57-52 lead with a quarter to play.
McVey was back at it in the fourth with 12 more points. Bryant scored the remaining seven, and GHS led 69-60 with less than five minutes to play.
The Dragons went on a 10-3 run to trim the deficit to two points with 53 seconds on the clock. McVey shot 4/4 from the line to help secure Gilmer’s win.
Bryant finished with 16 points, and both he and Becerra added five assists.
Against Fannin, GHS had success driving to the basket while Fannin opted to do most of its damage from outside. Wofford led the Bobcats with 29 points and 10 came in the first.
The Rebels shot 9/23 from three-point territory on the night and trailed 23-14 after a quarter. FCHS hit 5/6 threes in the second to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 38-35 at halftime.
Wofford tallied 17 points through two quarters and went right back to work in the third. Fannin went on a brief 5-0 run to start the quarter before Wofford scored 11 straight points for a 49-40 GHS advantage.
The Bobcats were ahead 58-46 entering the fourth. Davis, McVey and Taylor all contributed points as Gilmer’s lead swelled to 71-50 with less than four minutes on the clock.
Gilmer’s starters left the game with 3:20 to play and the Cats cruised to victory. McVey (13), Davis (12) and Taylor (10) joined Wofford in double figures. McVey added 15 boards and a block. Bryant had three assists and scored eight points by driving to the basket.
Gilmer was on the road last Friday at Dawson County. GHS won, 72-70, but no further information was available by press deadline. Nor was any information available in regard to the junior varsity Bobcats’ games last week.
GHS faced Lumpkin County at press deadline. The Cats host White County Friday at 7 p.m. and will meet North Murray Saturday on the road at 4:30 p.m.