With a state playoff spot already secured, the Gilmer High Bobcats added two more wins to their seasonal tally.
GHS wrapped up its region schedule last Tuesday in Lumpkin County, and the Indians were the fifth region victim claimed by Gilmer. The Bobcats’ 3-1 victory settled them into third place in the final region standings.
The Cats dealt with some inspired play from the Indians in the first half as neither team scored.
“It was their senior night, and their boys played hard for their parents and supporters,” said GHS coach Simon Phipps. “It was a messy game, and the normal flow was broken up by fouls and substitutions.”
The senior duo of Melvin Oxlaj and Julien Withrow accounted for Gilmer’s goals. Oxlaj was up first, and his left-footed shot slid across the face of the goal and inside the far post.
Phipps described Withrow’s goals, noting, “The first was a superbly executed quick free kick where he caught the whole Lumpkin team off guard and confidently struck a ball into a pretty much-undefended goal. His second came after the following kickoff where he ran the ball back after winning it and shot at the goal.”
The Indians managed a goal in the second half, but they could not keep pace with the Bobcats.
GHS finished the regular season last Thursday at home versus Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Gilmer came away with a 2-0 victory to cap a four-match winning streak to end the regular season. Over that span, the Cats outscored opponents, 16-3.
GHS has a 10-4-1 record and finished 5-2 versus region opponents. The Bobcats are Region 7-3A’s No. 3 seed entering the state tournament, and they will travel to Westminster next Wednesday, April 13, for the first round.