The Gilmer High Bobcats may have been ousted in the quarterfinals of the region tournament, but their seasonal resume was good enough to earn a state tournament spot.
In previous years, the Bobcats would be on the outside looking in, but thanks to this year’s newly-adopted postseason power rankings, GHS earned one of Class 3A’s three at-large bids.
“We lost in the region tournament, but what I’ve been telling the players all year is ‘Every game matters,’” said head coach Jordan Hice. “Everything past the first seed is power ranked. It’s important to win those games throughout the year in case you are a fifth seed (in the region) so you can possibly get that at-large bid. It just so happened we were the last team to get one.”
The Bobcats will continue their season in the 32-team Class 3A state tournament. They earned the 26th seed and will play No. 7 Monroe (17-9 overall) in the first round. The Golden Tornadoes are Region 1-3A’s champions.
“They’re athletic and quick. Height wise, we’re mismatched all around,” Hice said of Monroe. “We’re going to have to play smart and figure out things to our advantage.
“Turnovers and rebounding will be a big key. We’re going to try to not give up offensive rebounds and give up straight line drives. We have to limit turnovers and find good, effective shots.”
Monroe is led by all-region players Lorenzo Still, Nehemiah Tinch, Chase Dixon and Brayden Burns. Bobcats J.D. Taylor and Keegen Bryant were named to Region 7’s all-region teams.
Region tournament
Gilmer entered the region tournament as the No. 4 seed and met No. 5 LaFayette. The Ramblers hit a three pointer in the last minute before a free throw in the waning seconds to force overtime. GHS was held scoreless in the four-minute extra period and lost, 59-56.
The Ramblers took advantage of Gilmer’s turnovers for 23 points. Fifteen LHS offensive rebounds led to 21 second-chance points.
“Some of our (12) turnovers were charges where we’re driving the lane,” Hice said. “We get a lot of charges taken against us because we’re a very aggressive team to the rim because that’s our best way to score.”
GHS led 28-27 at halftime and 49-40 entering the fourth. The Ramblers doubled the Cats’ points in the quarter to tie the score at the end of regulation, 56-56.
“We had a good start to the third, hit some shots and kind of contained them,” said Hice. “In the fourth, it kind of flip flopped. We had a slow quarter when they came out in a zone, and it was the same with overtime. We couldn’t get anything going. We had an opportunity with free throws but couldn’t take advantage.”
A Rambler three with 52 seconds left in the fourth gave them a 55-54 lead. After a series of timeouts, a final Gilmer play and deep two-pointer by Boston Teague gave GHS a 56-55 lead with eight tenths of a second to play.
A Bobcat foul on the ensuing full-court inbound pass put LHS on the free-throw line and the Ramblers tied the score to force overtime. All three of LaFayette’s overtime points came at the free-throw line.
Bryant scored 19 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Taylor added 16 points and five boards. Teague contributed 13 points and six rebounds. Mack Kiser added four points, and both Blane Banks and Preston McVey scored two.
GHS will make the 260-mile trip to Albany today to take on Monroe at 7:30 p.m.