The Gilmer Bobcat captured another tournament championship to begin their season.
GHS hosted the annual ETC/Piedmont Mountainside Tip-off Tournament, which wrapped up last week. Gilmer took on Fannin County Monday and sent the Rebels back to Blue Ridge with a sound 79-44 loss.
Gilmer ended the event the following night against the Pickens Dragons. Gilmer led throughout, and a four-point third quarter buried the Dragons in an insurmountable hole. GHS claimed its tournament title with a 66-50 win.
“They were a couple good games, but there are still things we need to work on and clean up,” said head coach Jordan Hice. “I felt like Fannin struggled a little more than we did, and once they get some more playing time under their belt, they’ll be stronger.
“Same thing with Pickens, we saw some things we didn’t see in the first two games. We had a lot of turnovers (25); turnovers were excessive. They pressed us the whole game, but we were able to take control of the lead and never really lost control.”
The Bobcats’ transition game was rolling in the first half versus Fannin and it produced 22 points. Meanwhile, the Rebels had trouble getting open looks to fall and their offense sputtered.
The Cats jumped ahead 17-6 after a quarter and led 48-16 at the half. In the third, GHS started to heat up from beyond the three-point arc. Christian Sumner drained a trio of threes and both Keegen Bryant and Jacob Becerra made one apiece.
Fannin found itself behind 69-31 entering the fourth, and Gilmer’s 35-point win marked its second of the tournament.
Bryant finished with 14 points and Sumner added 11 more. Jackson McVey had 13 points and nine rebounds, while both J.D. Taylor and Kohan Davis scored eight.
GHS was off to another hot start against Pickens. The Bobcats made 50 percent of their shots from the field in the opening quarter. They also made three of their five three pointers on the night, and Gilmer led by eight points after a quarter and 31-24 at halftime.
PHS made just two shots from the field in the third while committing nine turnovers. Gilmer pushed its lead to 48-28 with eight minutes to play.
Pickens managed its best quarter in the fourth, and the Dragons made five threes to remain in the game. The Bobcats offense continued to be effective as they made 8/11 shots to preserve the win.
McVey racked up 17 rebounds to go with 14 points and three blocks. Ryder Wofford added 20 points and seven boards. Davis finished with 11 points and Bryant had nine.
“It was good to win the tournament, especially going (substituting) five in and five out,” Hice said. “I’m playing a lot more players and have more depth than what we’re normally used to. We want them to get used to that and work hard for the four minutes they’re in there.
“Turnovers seemed to be a little more of an issue for us. Overall, I saw some good things and some bad things. We’re going over film and talking about the things we need to fix and get better at.”
JV Cats pummel Rebels
The junior varsity Bobcats met Fannin County for its lone game of the tournament and rolled to a 64-30 victory.
The Rebels were unable to keep pace with the Bobcats or handle their defensive pressure. Gilmer’s three-pronged attack was spearheaded by Bryant (18 points), Taylor (15) and Boston Teague (12).
The Bobcats made three pointers and scored in transition in the opening quarter to put FCHS on the ropes. Gilmer took a 12-point lead into the second quarter where Bryant scored 14 of the Cats’ 17 points.
FCHS found itself in a 36-17 hole to start the third. The Rebels’ prospects took a bleaker turn after making just four free throws in the quarter.
GHS entered the fourth ahead, 59-21, and Bobcat reserves closed out the win.