Coach Jordan Hice has a veteran group of players at his disposal this year.
The Gilmer High Bobcats began their basketball season last week, and there are 24 players in the program, which includes nine freshmen. Twelve players will make up the varsity while remaining players will take the court in sub-varsity games.
The Bobcats started getting ready for the season over the summer as players took the court for roughly 20 exhibitions.
“We did a lot less practicing this summer because I just wanted to see them play some games and see where they’re at,” Hice said. “The GHSA cut us a week short (with an extra mandated dead week where athletics are prohibited) so that hurts us with practice time. I think we only practiced five days total and the rest was playing.”
Official in-season practices got under way Oct. 20. Since that time, Hice’s focus has been centered on installing new offensive sets to take advantage of the Bobcats’ strengths.
“We’ve been looking for some new offenses and added something different. We worked on one basic set then over the next three weeks added things to it so we have different looks from the same set,” Hice said.
Their offensive adjustments revolve around senior post players Cade Carter and Lewis Mulkey and running plays through the duo.
“With Cade and Lewis, we’re looking to do a lot more double post,” Hice said. “I can’t remember the last time I ran two posts. As long as we can keep up with the pace of the game and the speed, and the defense doesn’t get too down, we’ll be looking to play two posts.”
The Bobcats still have the ability to be versatile when needed if opponents are hitting deep shots.
“We’ll have the option to go guard heavy with one post and four guards. It will all depend on the team we’re playing against. Not too many teams have two big guys, so as long as they don’t run us up and down the floor, we’ll be able to mismatch them that way,” Hice said.
“But with that, you’re trading twos for threes when you go big, which is something that is a big change in the game these days.”
So far, the Bobcats have been receptive to the new offensive wrinkle.
“The players enjoy it. It’s more interaction with the post, so I feel like the post has more to say in how the offense is done,” Hice said. “We have things like post entries from the high post. It gets them more involved and it puts them in a bigger role.”
Hice believes Gilmer has more speed and depth this season and plans on playing nine to 10 players regularly.
Aside from Carter and Mulkey, fellow seniors and returning lettermen Mark Tyson, Ethan Banks and Britt Taylor will fill the guard roles. Miles McCall, Drew Little, Will Kiker, Hunter Watkins, Christian Sumner and Connor Wimpey will fill reserve roles.
“I feel like this year, they’re just more motivated,” Hice said. “I feel like they’re ready to play and believe they can win a lot of games. Teams are going to have to guard us inside because we have such a big inside presence with Lewis and Cade. We’ll have two down there doing the bulk of the scoring.”
Hice wants to see the Bobcats continue to improve defensively and hopes their press will aid their aggressiveness.
“We installed some new presses, but that’s not going to be effective against some of the teams we play, especially if they’re faster than us,” he said. “We want to play some good aggressive defense with some man to man. One shot, we get the ball, and I feel like we’re a better scoring team this year. I’m hoping we’re going to be more well-rounded with our scoring.
“I’d like to be strong and aggressive up front and just start pressing. We’ve been working on that transition from offense straight into press. I’ve got it drilled into their heads that whenever we score, immediately jump into that press and get ready to go.”
A 35-second shot clock will be used in Christmas tournaments and in regular-season region games. It will not be used in the postseason, but will be fully implemented for all games next season. Hice hopes their press will put opposing teams in a bind.
“If we can take 10 more seconds off that shot clock then maybe another five for them to set up after the press, that cuts them down to 20 seconds,” Hice said.
“Our region voted to use a shot clock during region games. It has a huge impact on how you have to play, but then when we get to the region tournament or state tournament, there is no shot clock.”
Gilmer started the season last Saturday at the ETC/Piedmont Mountainside Tip-off Tournament and notched a 60-53 win over archrival Pickens. The JV Cats took on Fannin and thumped the Rebels, 71-48.
The Bobcats faced Fannin after Monday’s press deadline. GHS closed out the event Tuesday against Copper Basin, Tenn.