The Gilmer Lady Cats returned to the court for three more basketball games last week.
The Cats hosted East Forsyth Tuesday, and the Broncos pulled away from GHS in the second half for a 53-35 win. Gilmer hit the road Friday at North Hall, and the Trojans torched the nets with three-point shots to down the Cats, 74-41.
GHS closed out the week Saturday at home versus Fannin County, the No. 2 ranked team in Class 2A. Gilmer hung with the Rebels early but could not keep pace beyond the second quarter as FCHS won, 64-40.
Newly-opened East Forsyth has nearly 1,000 more students than GHS and is currently only serving those in grades 9-11.
“After watching film on them, they are a very good first-year school. I knew it was going to be a very tough game, but I was pleased with our girls for that first half at least,” said head coach Susan Nunn. “We were unable to get some baskets in the third quarter, and that was the end of it and we couldn’t recover.”
The game marked Elly Callihan’s return to the court after she was sidelined by an injury for a month. Gilmer trailed by three entering the third where the offense only produced four points.
The Broncos’ advantage stood at 10 points after the third and 18 by game’s end. EFHS made six threes on the day to go with 26 points in the paint. Nineteen points followed offensive rebounds.
Lark Reece led Gilmer with 12 points and she grabbed four rebounds.
Nunn received multiple scouting reports ahead of the North Hall game and knew it had the ability to get hot from outside. The Trojans drained 18/25 three pointers on the night while making just 9/32 two-point attempts.
“That’s an unbelievable amount of threes for a girls team. They didn’t have a lot of size, and even their girls on the inside would rather shoot the three,” Nunn said.
The Trojans stormed ahead 41-16 at halftime and did not let up over the game’s final 16 minutes.
Brooke Wilson was the Cats’ top scorer with eight points, and Callihan grabbed 10 rebounds.
Gilmer went on an 8-2 run to start the game versus Fannin, and Callihan was whistled for her second foul with 2:17 left in the first quarter.
FCHS led 13-12 to begin the second, and Lady Rebel Becca Ledford was there for 10 points in the quarter as she attacked the lane. Fannin added a pair of threes and shot 8/9 from the free-throw line. The Rebels closed out the final four minutes of the half by going on a 17-1 run for a 35-20 halftime lead.
FCHS outscored the Cats 17-8 in the third as its advantage widened to 52-28. A mix of reserves and starters closed out the fourth quarter for both teams.
Callihan and Charley Poteet both scored eight points for GHS.
“Our issue at this point is we’ve just gotten Elly back, which is a great thing,” Nunn said. “But she’s had a month of not playing. Her conditioning isn’t there to be in a game the whole time, and she hasn’t been able to shoot almost as long as she’s been out.”
Nunn added, “We’re just struggling to put it together for four quarters. We’re hanging with people for about a quarter and a half to two quarters, and then have just been unable to keep stringing baskets together.
“I’m pleased with their improvement since Elly’s been out and pleased with their effort on everything they’re doing. There’s nothing wrong in those areas, we’re just having issues putting four quarters of scoring together. We just have to do a better job at practice to get up more game-like shots to keep from going cold.”
GHS is 6-10 overall and hosted Cherokee Bluff at press deadline. GHS will travel to West Hall Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff and Pickens Saturday for a 3 p.m. game.
Junior varsity
The JV Lady Cats fell to East Forsyth (33-31) Tuesday and North Hall (54-32) Friday before a 44-35 victory Saturday against Fannin County.
East Forsyth led by seven after a quarter and 21-16 at the half. EFHS pushed its lead back to seven points (30-23) with a quarter to play. The Cats mounted a comeback in the fourth while East Forsyth’s offense stumbled, but GHS came up two points short.
Amayah Jones led GHS with seven points, Marley Boatwright added six and Julibelle Queen scored five.
North Hall had a strong opening quarter and outscored GHS in the second to lead 26-15 at halftime. Gilmer only scored six points in the third. The Trojans poured on 18 more for a 23-point cushion entering the fourth en route to victory.
Madison Bradshaw led GHS with 12 points.
Lady Cat Grace Bramlett tallied 21 points versus Fannin, and her strong second half performance helped propel Gilmer to victory.
GHS built a sturdy 14-3 lead after a quarter, which the Rebels trimmed to 17-14 by halftime. Bramlett was there for eight points in the third as Gilmer got some breathing room with a 29-21 lead. Bramlett scored nine more points in the fourth, which included a 5/6 performance from the free-throw line.
Jones added seven points for GHS, Bradshaw posted five, while Arifah Jones, Boatwright and Alaina Miltiades all scored three and Queen had two.