The Gilmer High Bobcats got a much-needed road victory.
GHS was at West Hall last Saturday to continue its region schedule. The Spartans could not get shots to fall at the same rate in the second half, while the Bobcats found their rhythm in the fourth.
Gilmer turned its nine-point deficit into a 66-61 victory.
The Cats hosted Pickens a day prior, and the visiting Dragons earned a 64-60 rivalry win.
Against West Hall, the game was a tale of two halves. The Spartans drained seven three pointers in the opening half while shooting 50 percent from the field.
“They hit everything they threw up in the first half, especially in the first quarter,” said head coach Jordan Hice. “Then they only hit one three in the second half, which helped us out. As good as they were shooting, they were bound to stop hitting as many shots as they were. We were able to maintain and finally got some stops and made some easy buckets and took the lead.
“It was a really good win after being down. I’m proud of them for keeping their composure and then taking the lead in the fourth.”
West Hall’s 24-17 advantage after a quarter stood at 42-32 at halftime and 52-43 entering the fourth, which is where the Cats took over. Jackson McVey scored eight of his team high 22 points in the fourth, and Christian Sumner added seven more.
WHHS only made three shots from the field in the final quarter, and Sumner’s three pointer with 3:46 to play tied the score at 55-55. Sumner made the go-ahead free throw 90 seconds later, and his corner three pointer on Gilmer’s next possession gave GHS a 59-55 lead.
The Bobcats held off the Spartans over the final two minutes for the win.
Sumner finished with 12 points, J.D. Taylor scored 13 and Kohan Davis added nine. McVey grabbed 11 rebounds on the night, and Will Kiker led the way with six assists. Taylor and Davis finished with five and four assists, respectively.
McVey had another strong performance versus Pickens with 26 points and 17 rebounds. Taylor scored 11 and Keegen Bryant added with 10.
GHS made just three three pointers while Pickens hit seven.
“We could have stayed in the game if we hit some outside shots, and I think we would’ve been fine,” Hice said. “We haven’t shot that bad from outside all year so that hurt us. I thought we played hard and played good defense and beat their press fairly well. We just didn’t have a good outside shooting night and they did.”
Gilmer made just 3/20 three-point attempts and shot 33 percent from the field. GHS was limited to seven points in the first quarter to trail by five.
Seven Dragon turnovers came in the second and GHS turned them into seven points. Gilmer also shot 7/8 from the free-throw line and was able to garner a 24-23 halftime lead.
The Dragons’ offense came to life in the third quarter. PHS made 11/16 shots from the field, which included a trio of three pointers.
GHS trailed 48-40 entering the fourth. While Gilmer tied the game briefly, it made just 1/6 three-point shots. After scoring 12 points in the third, McVey added nine more in the fourth, but the Cats were unable to secure the home win.
GHS has an 11-7 record and hosts Lumpkin County Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Southeast Whitfield Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
The junior varsity Bobcats were on the court for two games as well last week. Following Friday’s 56-44 loss to Pickens, GHS topped West Hall, 51-37.
Boston Teague scored 16 for Gilmer versus Pickens, Jaden Sevcech added nine and Cooper Farmer finished with eight.
PHS opened a four-point lead after a quarter and maintained a 24-20 edge at the half. GHS only managed nine points in the third, and Pickens enjoyed a 42-29 advantage entering the fourth.
The Cats and Dragons matched each other point for point in the final quarter as PHS won by 12.
In addition to the aforementioned players, Mac Kiser scored six for Gilmer, Riley Davis had three and Blane Banks added two points.
GHS was able to build upon its lead in every quarter the next day at West Hall. The Spartans scored seven points in each of the first two quarters, and GHS duplicated its tally with 11 points in each quarter as well.
The Bobcats turned their 22-14 edge into a 37-25 lead after three quarters. GHS kept its offense in gear in the fourth and came away with a 14-point triumph.
Banks led all scorers with 22 points, and he shot 10/11 from the free-throw line. Remaining points were scored by Chase Little (nine), Farmer (six), Teague (five), Davis (three) and Sevcech, Kiser and Noah Banks (two apiece).