The Gilmer High Lady Cats had their mettle tested in the home opener.
GHS hosted Murray County last Thursday, and the No. 3 ranked Indians pulled away from the Cats in the second half. Murray’s strong third quarter propelled it to a 52-43 victory.
Gilmer was in Jasper Saturday to take on West Forsyth. The Class 6A Wolverines were down early, and the Cats had a phenomenal shooting night to win easily, 74-29.
Neither team shot well in the opening half Thursday, and Murray forced four shot clock violations on the night. Both Bree Burnette and Jace Sanderson hit three pointers in the first quarter while Paula Robertson did the dirty work in the post grabbing offensive rebounds and drawing fouls.
With the score even 12-12, points were harder to come by in the second quarter. Both teams relied on close-range baskets and points from the free-throw line, and the score was even at halftime, 19-19.
Aliza Chastain made a pair of threes in the third, but GHS was unable to find offense elsewhere as Murray went on a 17-6 run.
Robertson free throws closed out the quarter, and GHS trailed 36-28 to begin the fourth. While a Sanderson three drew the Cats within seven points, another MCHS run followed. With 4:50 to play, Gilmer was behind, 49-31.GHS chipped away at the Indians’ lead but never caught up.
` Head coach David Dowse was pleased with the Cats’ rebounding and transition defense and said, “We weren’t quite as effective in our offensive transition. We had some opportunities that we threw away. Murray is a really good team and will be right in there for the AA state championship. They’re physical, and I challenged our girls to match their physicality. We did in the first and second quarters. To start the third we didn’t, and that’s where it started to get away from us a little.
“To our credit, we never quit. We battled back some and made it respectable. We’re not quite where they are right now. When we got tired and they were physical with us, our execution on offense was not very good and led to bad shot selection.”
Chastain led the way with 11 points, Robertson scored 10, grabbed eight rebounds and dished three assists, and Sanderson finished with nine points. Chelsey Griggs collected nine rebounds.
Remaining points were scored by Bree Burnette (seven), Griggs (four) and Madison Bradshaw (two).
GHS drained 14 three pointers versus West Forsyth. Eleven were accounted for by Sanderson, and Chastain made five threes and scored 19 points on the night. Sanderson contributed 18 points to the Cats’ cause and Robertson added 17.
eanwhile, WFHS shot 0/10 from three-point territory and only made eight two-point attempts. The Wolverines’ best offensive option was the free throw line, which provided 13 points.
GHS forced 25 Wolverine turnovers and converted them into 34 points. The Cats opened a 19-6 first quarter lead and were up 42-15 at the half. The Cats extended their lead to 63-22 entering the fourth and cruised to victory.
Burnette scored seven and had six assists, Bradshaw added four points and both Madison Hall and Morgan Palmeri totaled two. Robertson had six rebounds, Bradshaw and Sanderson grabbed five, and Griggs snatched four. Robertson and Griggs each had four assists.
GHS is 2-1 overall and faced Pickens Monday and Sprayberry Tuesday.