The Gilmer High Bobcats went into Thanksgiving break with two more victories.
GHS was in North Forsyth last Monday and Tuesday to secure a pair of wins over private schools. First up was Horizon Chastain Academy, and GHS shook off a sluggish start and came away with a 54-43 win.
Gilmer closed out the tournament against former region opponent Wesleyan. The Cats’ were buoyed by senior J.D. Taylor, who scored 41 points in Gilmer’s 65-56 overtime victory.
On Monday, GHS was held to six points as HCA pulled ahead by 12. The Warriors extended their lead ahead of halftime, but a defensive adjustment allowed Gilmer to even the score at the half, 22-22.
“They came out hitting everything, and we had a really slow start,” said head coach Jordan Hice. “We were down by 15 at one point. Defensively we were giving up a bunch of layups and open shots. We eventually jumped into a 1-3-1 zone and rode that the rest of the game. They had problems with it, and we were getting steals off it.
“We came out in the second half and played really well and didn’t look back. We didn’t hit a lot of shots, but we got a lot of steals and transition points.”
The move from man to zone defense yielded five turnovers in the second quarter after the Warriors did not commit any in the first. Over the second half, GHS pressure forced nine more HCA turnovers.
Points slowed again for both teams in the third, and GHS led 30-28 with a quarter to play. However, the fourth was a different story. Gilmer went on a 20-0 run, and Hice emptied his bench with 1:50 to play. HCA was able to outscore Bobcat reserves 13-2 over the remainder of the game, and GHS won by 11.
The Cats found success in the post where they outpaced HCA, 24-14. Gilmer also scored 14 transition points while the Warriors were held to four.
Keegen Bryant led GHS with 22 points, and he was 4/4 from three-point territory. He grabbed seven rebounds and had four steals. Taylor was there for 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Boston Teague collected nine rebounds and scored five points. Mack Kiser tallied five points as well.
Taylor was a terror versus Wesleyan. He continually drew fouls and made 13/19 free-throw attempts. He added seven steals, five rebounds and four assists.
Hice stuck with the 1-3-1 zone, and it forced 17 turnovers, which Gilmer converted into 29 points. Seventeen of the Cats’ points were scored in transition.
Wesleyan made nine threes but only seven two-point baskets. GHS held a distinct free-throw advantage of 18/28 compared to 7/12.
Gilmer turned its six-point first quarter lead into a 37-25 advantage at the half. Wesleyan cut into Gilmer’s lead in the third and only trailed 43-41 entering the fourth.
The score was even at the end of regulation, 55-55.
Gilmer shot 8/8 from the line in overtime while the Wolves only managed a point. Gilmer’s nine-point win improved its record to 3-2.
“Even if we’re not making shots, I feel like we’re making the right attempts,” Hice said. “We’re moving the ball and working the ball and getting open threes. It’s just going to boil down to if we’re going to make them or not.
“We had a slow third quarter and picked it back up in the fourth. We outscored them 10-1 in overtime and most of it came from the free-throw line.”
Bryant scored 11, Teague had five and both Kiser and Cooper Farmer added four. Kiser pulled down nine rebounds and Farmer had six.
Gilmer hosts Adairsville Friday at 8: 30 p.m.