The Gilmer High Lady Cats closed out Pickens’ Thanksgiving tournament with a pair of losses.
GHS took the court against the host Dragonettes last Monday. Pickens’ third quarter was a bright spot in a game where points were at a premium, and the Dragonettes won, 38-18.
The Cats returned to the court two days later against Class 6A Sprayberry. Defenses ruled the day once again, and the Yellow Jackets hung on to beat GHS, 42-38.
Head coach David Dowse assessed the Lady Cats’ matchup versus No. 5 ranked Pickens, noting, “Defensively, we were pretty good. Thirty-eight points will be their lowest output of the year, I can pretty much bet on that. But we’re not putting the ball in the hole. We’re not scoring and have to fix that. That’s the disappointing part.
“They did some things defensively to guard us, but we’ve got to recognize those things. They’re things we practice, and we’re just not mentally there yet. We will get there, but we’re not there yet.”
Gilmer’s struggles were persistent throughout, and the Cats did not score more than four points in any of the first three quarters. Pickens did not fare much better against the Cats’ defense and led just 14-6 at halftime.
However, PHS outscored Gilmer 17-2 in the third quarter to open a 23-point lead with eight minutes to play. Gilmer’s 10-point fourth was its best, but it was not nearly enough to catch the Dragonettes.
GHS shot just 19.5 percent from the field, which included a 1/21 effort on three-point attempts. PHS made 6/23 threes and also out rebounded the Cats, 36-22. Both teams committed 12 turnovers, but Pickens converted Gilmer’s into 12 points.
Bree Burnette led Gilmer with nine points, Madison Bradshaw scored four, Paula Robertson had three and Chelsey Griggs added two. Robertson and Griggs grabbed four rebounds apiece, Bradshaw and Burnette had three and Griggs nabbed two.
Gilmer shot better versus Sprayberry, but outside shots were still an issue. While both teams were 9/30 from two-point territory, and GHS held an 11/16 advantage at the free-throw line compared to a 6/13 effort for SHS, the Yellow Jackets made 6/20 threes. Gilmer shot 3/13 from outside.
“We’re not shooting it very well, and we’re turning it over a little too much, especially in transition,” Dowse said. “We’re not converting where we need to convert, and then sometimes we’re turning it right back over to them.
“We want to get in better shape over the next couple weeks, and that’s a point of emphasis. That may in turn help some of the decision making and also our shooting.”
After taking a 15-11 lead into the second quarter, SHS pulled ahead at the half, 21-18. The Jackets slogged their way to a 30-25 edge with a quarter to play and held on for the four-point win.
Robertson scored 12 and added 10 rebounds, while Jace Sanderson finished with 10 points and five boards. Aliza Chastain was there for seven points, and both Burnette and Griggs had four. Grace Bramlett and Bradshaw snatched four rebounds apiece.
GHS is 2-3 overall, and its next three games are against region opponents.
“Five games in, we have an idea of what we’re doing well and not doing well,” Dowse said.
“Maybe we need to take a step back and say, ‘Are these reasonable expectations for the kids?’ If they are, we need to press through. If we’re asking them to do something that is not in their wheelhouse, we’ll make some adjustments. We’re certainly not abandoning ship, but we’re going to put in some wrinkles offensively and defensively for when we do struggle to help get us back on track.”
Tipoff Friday at home versus Adairsville is set for 7 p.m.