The Gilmer Bobcats met a pair of region foes and an old rival last week.
GHS hosted East Forsyth Tuesday and held off the Broncos late for a 67-66 win. The Cats struggled mightily Friday at North Hall where the Trojans rolled to victory, 76-30.
Gilmer was back at home the following day versus the Fannin County Rebels. The Bobcats made the plays needed in the high-intensity game for a 54-48 win.
Point guard Matthew Rouse was East Forsyth’s catalyst. Along with fellow guard Davy J. Hymas, they buoyed the Broncos’ offenses and both scored 19 points.
Gilmer’s Cade Carter was there for 23 points and 10 rebounds while Christian Sumner added 14 points with 12 coming off three pointers.
“It was a good, aggressive game, and East Forsyth is a really quick team,” said head coach Jordan Hice. “We had trouble with one of their guards (Rouse). Every time we would help, he’d kick the ball out and they’d hit a three. Every time we didn’t help, he would drive and score. We both had good shooting nights.”
Gilmer made nine threes to supplement its post game, which produced 32 points. The Cats led by five at the half and inched their lead to 53-44 entering the fourth.
The Broncos drew within a point in the wanning seconds, but the Cats escaped with the win.
Gilmer got behind quickly versus North Hall. The Trojans out rebounded the Cats 45-28 and tallied 22 second-chance points off 15 offensive boards. They added nine three pointers while the Cats shot just 1/12 from outside.
“I think the players were shell shocked by the anticipation of the game,” Hice said of the Bobcats, who made 23 percent of their shots from the field.
“We talked about it today (Saturday), and it got to the point where they were so worried about losing the game they weren’t focused on winning it. It was almost like we were waiting for someone to step up. We have to play our game and not settle or get upset or get frustrated. We have to play to win no matter what.”
Lewis Mulkey led GHS with nine points and Carter scored six while collecting seven rebounds.
The Fannin game got a spark when a Rebel fan was ejected in the first quarter for a comment made to a referee. Fannin’s head coach received a technical foul in the second quarter, which drew even more ire from the Fannin faithful.
Despite the perceived slight from officials, GHS was whistled for seven more fouls than the Rebels, and the visitors shot 10 more free throws than the Bobcats.
Gilmer kept Fannin in the game with continual turnovers and committed eight in the opening quarter.
“To start the first quarter, we had a ton of turnovers. It wasn’t even them putting pressure on us, it was more of just dumb turnovers,” Hice said. “We’ve talked about that all year. They come in waves, and we dealt with the same thing in the fourth quarter. It’s the dumb turnovers that’s killed us.”
GHS led 13-8 after the first, and its lead grew to as many as 12 points in the second. However, FCHS went on a 7-1 run to close out the half to cut the Cats’ advantage to 28-22.
With both Mulkey and Carter on the bench in the third, Fannin took advantage on the offensive end where they grabbed 20 rebounds on the night.
“Lewis hit two or three big mid-range jump shots and Cade was rebounding. As soon as they went out of the game, we gave up three or four offensive rebounds in a row. When Cade and Lewis are in there, they can contain a lot of that,” Hice said.
Gilmer’s lead stood at 38-36 with eight minutes to play.
The Rebels went ice cold to start the fourth. A 12-3 GHS run followed as starters Mulkey and Britt Taylor fouled out, and the Cats’ lead expanded to 50-39 with 2:16 to play.
The Rebels had a final charge remaining, and their defensive effort forced three Bobcat turnovers. A FCHS three pointer with 31 seconds in the game drew Fannin within two, 50-48.
Ethan Banks and Carter were both fouled and made two free throws apiece to preserve Gilmer’s win.
“We were going strong the first half. Once opponents get used to what you’re doing, you have to be able to get stronger at it. That’s what we’re focusing on right now,” said Hice.
Banks was the Cats’ top scorer with 17 points, Carter added 11 points and six rebounds and Mulkey scored 10.
GHS is 12-4 overall and hosted Cherokee Bluff at press deadline. GHS travels to West Hall Friday for an 8:30 p.m. tipoff and a 4:30 p.m. game Saturday at Pickens.
Junior varsity
The JV Bobcats trailed throughout against North Hall Friday in a 65-46 loss. The Cats rebounded the next day versus Fannin County and hammered the Rebels, 65-40.
NHHS came out on top 15-5 after the first and extended its lead to 34-17 by the half. The Trojans’ advantage grew to 50-27 after the third. GHS had its best quarter in the fourth and posted 19 points.
Jackson McVey led GHS with 12 points and John Ponders scored 10.
The Bobcats had a solid scoring effort versus Fannin led by Ryder Wofford (13 points), McVey (12), J.D. Taylor (10), Blane Banks (nine) and Ponders (eight).
GHS inched ahead 13-9 after the first before a 21-point second quarter to open a 34-13 lead at the break.
Six Bobcats contributed points in the third as the Rebels were buried in a 54-26 hole, which they were unable to escape in the fourth.