For the first time since 2014, the Gilmer High Bobcats have qualified for the basketball state tournament.
The Bobcats solidified their spot at home last Thursday. No. 3 seeded GHS met seventh seeded Lumpkin County in the second round. The Indians were content with firing three pointers all game and many more missed than fell through the cylinder. Gilmer concentrated its efforts inside and found success for a 44-34 win.
“I felt like there were some times where we could’ve pulled away, and we still didn’t shoot well from the free-throw line (6/15),” said coach Jordan Hice. “They knew who to foul, and we still need to sharpen that up.
“Christian (Sumner) hit a few threes, but the big thing was working the ball inside and they were going to have to beat our inside game with their outside game.”
The Indians continued to shoot three pointers regardless of their success rate. LCHS made 8/32 attempts from three-point land, while the Bobcats’ post play produced 30 points on the night.
Cade Carter was Gilmer’s dominant big man down low. He led all scorers with 22 points to go with 10 rebounds. Thirteen of Carter’s points came in the first half.
Lumpkin got in early foul trouble as starters Hunter Cooper and Preston Cox both earned three fouls before halftime. On the night, LCHS committed 15 fouls to Gilmer’s 10, and the Indians did not shoot any free throws.
Gilmer’s 10-8 lead after a quarter stood at 22-16 at halftime. Bobcat Jackson McVey was there to add six more post points in the third. Lumpkin was able to trim Gilmer’s lead to five, and the Cats led by as many as 11 points at one point.
Gilmer took a 36-26 advantage into the fourth. Carter added six more points to his tally as Lumpkin continued to fire and miss three pointers. LCHS never got closer than seven points in the fourth, and Gilmer claimed the 10-point win.
McVey, Sumner and Lewis Mulkey all scored six points. Will Kiker scored two, as did Ethan Banks, who finished with seven rebounds.
GHS traveled to Cherokee Bluff to take on North Hall in the semifinals Saturday, and the Trojans defeated Gilmer, 74-64. The loss sent the Bobcats to the consolation bracket, and they faced East Forsyth at press deadline. A win will secure the region’s No. 3 seed heading into the upcoming state tournament.