The Gilmer High Lady Cats snagged three more wins on the basketball court.
The Cats’ slate began last week with a pair of region games, and the Lumpkin County Indians were in Ellijay Tuesday. It was a low-scoring physical game, and LCHS led early. The Cats took over in the second half as Lumpkin went cold offensively in a 42-37 GHS win.
Gilmer hosted No. 5 ranked White County Friday, and rough play continued. While WCHS led throughout, Gilmer cut its lead to eight before a final Warrior run. White kept its foot on the gas in the waning minutes for a 63-45 victory.
The Cats were on the road the following afternoon at North Murray. The Mountaineers had earned seven wins through 10 games to that point, but they would not get their eighth. GHS led from wire to wire and NM could never get its offense in gear as the Cats won, 57-37.
The Cats’ defense powered their win over Lumpkin to begin the week. GHS snatched 19 steals on the night and 13 came in the second half when the Cats needed them most. It was the right night for GHS to create points off its press as the Cats shot just 25 percent from the field.
“Our press did a really good job, and we told the girls the press was going to win us this game and to buy into it,” said head coach Dani Wright. “It helped because there were a lot of shot opportunities we had and we just weren’t hitting that night. Being able to get those steals and converting those was huge for us.”
In addition to the Cats swiping the ball, Lumpkin committed 10 more turnovers on the night. Gilmer converted the Indians’ shaky ball handling into 19 points.
Aliza Chastain and Bree Burnette were two of the Cats with five steals, and they each hit a three pointer in the first to keep the offense afloat. LCHS led 11-7 after a quarter and expanded its lead to as many as eight points in the second.
Ava Jones totaled 15 points in the half, but she was held scoreless in the second half, and LCHS had difficulties finding offense elsewhere.
Chastain scored seven of her team-high 14 points in the third, and Burnette had success driving to the basket and drawing fouls for six more points. Gilmer’s press collected eight steals for 12 points to cut its 25-18 halftime deficit down to 34-33.
Neither team had much offense in the fourth, and Gilmer racked up five more steals to limit Indian possessions. A Chastain three pointer with 5:30 left in the game gave Gilmer a 37-36 lead, and LCHS never recovered.
Burnette added 12 points, and Chelsey Griggs scored nine and recorded five steals. Lucy Ray was there for three steals for the Cats.
GHS jumped out to a 7-2 lead versus White before the Warriors closed out the quarter with a 16-2 run. White’s press helped force six Gilmer turnovers, and five more came in the second quarter. WCHS led 31-21 at the half.
The Warriors were up by at least 10 points for most of the second half aside from early in the fourth quarter when Gilmer was able to trim their lead to 46-38.
White was ahead by 16 points with 2:30 to play and Wright emptied her bench.
“I thought we did really good, and I was kind of upset with the refs for not calling fouls,” Wright said. “It was a physical game, and once they started calling them, they weren’t able to ride us the whole time while we were driving. The girls played really tough and strong. The final score does not reflect how we played because we took our starters out and they kept theirs in the whole game.
“I was proud of the girls for rebounding, and I think our rebounding effort has gotten better to where we’re not giving up third and fourth opportunities. That’s what’s been helping us out in these games.”
GHS only attempted eight free throws and made four. WCHS shot 11/18 from the line. Chastain scored 13, while Ray and Burnette scored eight and Madison Bradshaw finished with seven.
Gilmer’s win over North Murray was aided by the Cats’ defensive pressure. Chastain led all scorers with 26 points, and she made six three pointers. Gilmer pulled the Mountaineer’s post player out of the paint to open up the floor.
“The girls did really good with the press and we changed some stuff up, too,” Wright noted. “We tried to bring their big girl out of the post with Lucy. She was pretty much our point guard starting the offense, and that helped us clear the paint out so we could get those dribble drives.”
Chastain scored 15 in the first half, and Bradshaw, Burnette, Griggs, Ray and Grace Bramlett added points as well for a 35-21 lead at halftime.
Gilmer’s strategy continued to pay dividend in the second half as North Murray’s points did not come any easier. GHS led 46-28 with a quarter to play en route to its 20-point win.
Gilmer met NMHS again Monday evening and won, 54-43. GHS has a 5-7 overall record and faces McMinn County (Tenn.) Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Coahulla Creek Thursday at 1 p.m. All games are at North Murray High.
Junior varsity
The junior varsity Lady Cats were on the court for games against White County and North Murray.
White was up first Friday and it put the game away early as the Warriors won, 49-20. The North Murray matchup Saturday followed a similar theme except it was the Cats who won handily, 44-18.
Versus White, GHS fell behind 12-6 after a quarter. When the Cats duplicated their point total in the second, WCHS added 16 more points for a 28-12 halftime advantage.
GHS continued to struggle in the second half and White was able to increase its lead. Jaylee McDaniel scored seven points for Gilmer, Kenley Thompson contributed six, Madison Hall had three and both Presley Chancey and Morgan Palmeri finished with two.
Six Cats scored in the win over North Murray, and Palmeri led the way with 13 points.
While GHS only led 6-4 after the first, the Mountaineers were held scoreless in the second quarter. Gilmer had its best scoring quarter of the week to open a 22-4 lead at halftime. The Cats built upon their lead in the third, 30-11, and the 26-point win was their first of the season.
Hall was there for nine GHS points, Thompson scored eight, McDaniel and Mary Grace Jones added six and Toryn Adams had two.