The Gilmer High Bobcats are off to a 4-0 start to the basketball season and added a tournament title to their resume.
GHS was in Fannin County last week for the ETC/Piedmont Mountainside Tip-off Tournament. Gilmer first met Pickens Saturday, Nov. 20, and toppled the Dragons, 60-53.
Gilmer took down the Fannin County Rebels two days later on their home court, 67-57. The Bobcats were back at it Tuesday and crushed the Copper Basin Cougars, 60-28.
“Overall, I think we came out and played our best versus Pickens,” said head coach Jordan Hice. “They weren’t ready for what we did press wise, so it was kind of a shock. But then all the other teams got to see what we do and kind of how we react. All in all, it was a pretty fair game against Pickens.”
Gilmer’s press gave the Dragons fits early, and it led to easy points as the Cats roared ahead, 24-12. PHS struggled even more in the second quarter, and Gilmer gladly took a 37-19 lead into the halftime locker room.
The teams traded points nearly evenly in the third as Gilmer kept Pickens from within striking distance. GHS led by 16 with a quarter to play and still maintained an 18-point lead with three minutes left in the game.
Hice made some late substitutions, and Pickens got hot from outside to cut the Cats’ lead down to seven points by the final buzzer.
“The intensity was high, and we got a lot of steals with our press. Those steals and easy layups are what extended our lead. We did drop off some with scoring in the fourth quarter, so we’ve got to figure that out,” Hice said.
Post players Lewis Mulkey and Cade Carter led GHS with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Ethan Banks added nine and Christian Sumner finished with eight.
GHS committed 19 first half turnovers versus Fannin, and 13 came in the opening quarter as frantic play persisted. Gilmer was in a 19-11 hole to begin the second.
“We came out slow. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong,” Hice said. “There were times when we couldn’t even catch the basketball. We were getting steals, but then we’d turn it right back over.
“At that point, the only way to go was up because I don’t think it could have gotten any worse.”
The Cats started to reverse their fortunes with four minutes to play in the half. Their press led to steals and quick baskets, and GHS outscored FCHS 17-7 over that span to pull ahead, 30-28.
“They eventually calmed down and realized what I was trying to tell them, which was to hold the ball offensively and not get out of control. Once they got that concept, they did a whole lot better and started playing like the night before,” Hice said.
The Cats kept their momentum going in the third as they took over the game and left Fannin’s once raucous student section quiet as a church mouse. Noah Ballew, Banks and Mulkey powered the Cats’ offense in the second half, and Gilmer opened a 47-40 edge with a quarter to play.
GHS went on a 9-0 run to begin the fourth. Fannin found itself down by 16 with 4:38 to play as Gilmer got steals from Sumner and Banks that led to layups. FCHS drew within eight points with 45 seconds left in the game, but it would not get any closer.
“The bright side was, by the last four minutes of the second quarter, we got it together and jumped ahead,” Hice said. “It wasn’t the best start to a game, but good to see them get it together and get the win.”
Banks led all scorers with 22 points and was followed by Ballew (13), Mulkey (12) and Britt Taylor (eight).
Gilmer’s press kept pressure on Copper Basin, and the Cougars struggled to get open shots.
All 12 of Taylor’s points came in the first half. He and Banks both made a pair of threes and Sumner added another. Gilmer pushed its 16-4 lead to 32-17 at the half.
A mix of reserves and starters played together over the final 16 minutes. Copper Basin’s offense hit a rut in the second half and GHS kept scoring. The Cats’ 23-point lead after the third stood at 32 points by the end of the game.
“We tried to do a few things different. We did a lot of subbing to get players who normally don’t play some time,” Hice said. “We had some crazy rotations. I think I used my starters together for about half of the first quarter, a little bit of the second, and then I was doing five in and five out for the rest of the game.
“We put people in different spots in the press because of the personnel we had out there. It was good to see them adjust and run the plays.”
Banks led the way once more with 14 points and freshman reserve Jackson McVey scored eight.
Gilmer started its season Tuesday, Nov. 16, at Copper Basin and won, 61-21.
The Cougars never had a chance against the Cats. Gilmer’s press smothered Copper Basin, and defensive pressure was too much when they were able to cross midcourt.
GHS led 37-10 at halftime and it only got worse for CBHS over the final 16 minutes of play.
Banks’ 20 points was followed by Mulkey with 14, Will Kiker’s eight and Carter’s six.
The Bobcats will host Southeast Whitfield Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Pickens Saturday at 4:30 p.m.