The Gilmer High Lady Cats’ offensive woes on the basketball court continued in their latest three games.
GHS made its way to face archrival Pickens last Tuesday, and the No. 6 ranked Dragonettes won, 50-29. Gilmer was at home Friday, and the same issues persisted against the Dawson County Tigers, who notched a 49-29 victory.
The Cats were back on the road the following day versus Fannin County, who is ranked No. 4 in Class 2A. The Lady Rebels defended their home turf for a 63-32 win.
“We’re always looking for small victories,” head coach Dani Wright said. “Versus Dawson, I thought it was our best rebounding game with boxing out and not letting them get second-attempt shots. Or it could be winning a quarter, like the fourth quarter versus Pickens. We’re trying to harp on those small victories to keep the morale going.
“We’re a good shooting team when we’re wide open. When we drive and kick it out, it’s been awesome. We’re normally good at the free-throw line, but these last few games have probably been our worst free-throw percentage.”
The Cats were held scoreless in the first quarter at Pickens and made just one of 16 three-point attempts on the night.
While the Dragonettes did not particularly shoot well either, they did make eight shots from behind the three-point arc. GHS also did not attempt any free throws in the game while Pickens converted 8/11 from the line.
PHS led 29-9 at the half. Gilmer committed eight of its 25 turnovers in the third as the Dragonettes pushed their lead to 41-17 with a quarter to play. In the fourth, GHS was able to outscore the Dragonettes, 12-9.
Lady Cat Lucy Ray finished with eight points and seven rebounds. Amayah Jones scored eight as well. Aliza Chastain added four points and Maddie Wright grabbed four rebounds.
GHS was outscored by 12 points in the first quarter versus Dawson. The Tigers were able to garner a 27-13 halftime lead, but DCHS did not extend its lead by much in the second half. The Cats were only able to score eight points in both the third and fourth quarters.
Turnovers were an issue for both teams as GHS committed 31 to the Tigers’ 26. DCHS had a decisive advantage from outside where it made six three pointers while GHS did not make any.
Ray scored seven again for GHS. Jones finished with six points and five rebounds, and Chastain added five points.
Fannin shot 43 percent from the field, and converted 24 GHS turnovers into 24 points. The Lady Rebels scored 38 post points, and 15 followed offensive rebounds.
The Cats were limited to four made shots from the field through a half of play as FCHS opened a 39-10 advantage. The Cats had more success from the field in the second half, but there was no catching the Lady Rebels.
Chastain was the Cats’ top scorer with nine points and was followed by Charley Poteet (six), Jones and Chelsey Griggs (four), Ray and Anna Waddell (three), Grace Bramlett (two) and Madison Bradshaw (one).
Ray and Sophia Riblet both grabbed five rebounds.
Gilmer has a 1-8 overall record and traveled to Lumpkin County at press deadline. Gilmer will make its way to White County Friday for a 7 p.m. game and wrap up the week Saturday at North Murray (4:30 p.m.).
Junior varsity
The junior varsity Lady Cats were on the court for three games last week and earned wins over Pickens (42-39) and Dawson (34-32) before a 39-35 loss to Fannin County.
GHS led Pickens 30-23 Tuesday at the half. However, the Cats’ two-point third allowed PHS to slip ahead, 33-32. Chelsey Griggs’ six points in the fourth helped elevate the Cats to a three-point win.
Griggs finished with 10 points and Grace Bramlett added eight, and Bree Burnette finished with seven.
The Dawson game Friday was close as well, and Gilmer held a four-point lead at the half. DCHS overtook the Cats 24-22 entering the fourth where GHS got a boost from the free-throw line. The Cats made six free throws to escape with the win.
Arifah Jones led the way with eight points and both Burnette and Gracie Pritchett added seven and Bramlett scored five.
The Cats closed out the week Saturday at Fannin, and it kept the week’s theme in tact. Once again, GHS led at the half (26-21) before the Rebels doubled the Cats’ points in the third to even the score at 31-all.
GHS only scored four points in the fourth, and a technical foul near the end of the game allowed FCHS to extend its slim lead to four points.
Burnette scored 15 on the afternoon and she was followed by Alaina Miltiades (six), Addie Vick (five), Bramlett and Griggs (four) and Carly Becerra (one).