The Gilmer Lady Cats earned their first region basketball victory of the season.
GHS was in West Hall last Saturday and came away with a lopsided win over the beleaguered Spartans. Offense has not come easy for WHHS this season and Gilmer’s press forced turnovers in bunches as the Cats won, 68-12.
A day earlier, Gilmer hosted Pickens. The Cats’ low-scoring third quarter put them at a 20-point disadvantage and PHS claimed a 49-29 win.
“We pressed and their girls weren’t able to handle the ball pressure real well,” head coach Dani Wright said of West Hall. “A lot of our scoring was off the press. Another focus was the third quarter. We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve gotten into a rut in the third pretty consistently.”
The Cats’ full-court press frustrated the Spartans all evening. GHS forced 38 West Hall turnovers, which the Cats converted into 43 points. Gilmer also held a decisive advantage in the post where they collected 32 offensive rebounds for 28 second-chance points.
Along with ball security issues, the Spartans only made 12 percent of their shots and did not score more than six points in any quarter.
Gilmer tallied 23 points in the first to open a 20-point lead. By the half, GHS led 36-9 and 57-10 entering the fourth. The final quarter was shortened because of point differential, and GHS cruised to a 56-point win.
Lady Cat Lucy Ray topped 20 points for the second time this season and finished with 23 and shot 9/13 from the field.
Remaining Gilmer points were scored by Madison Bradshaw (nine), Chelsey Griggs and Bree Burnette (six each), Aliza Chastain and Sophia Riblet (five), Grace Bramlett (four), Amayah Jones (three) and Maddie Wright (two).
Jones led the way with eight rebounds as Ray, Riblet and Wright snatched five apiece.
The Lady Cats hung with No. 8 ranked Pickens through a half. Wright deployed a 1-2-2 defense to help slow the Dragonettes’ perimeter game. The Cats managed to lead by one after the first before the Dragonettes slipped ahead at the half, 20-16.
Following Gilmer’s five-point second quarter, the Cats were limited to two points in the third. Pickens extended its lead to 38-18 with eight minutes to play. GHS was able to get back to double-digit scoring in the fourth, but the Dragonettes maintained their lead to win by 20.
Gilmer found success from outside in both games. The Cats made six three pointers versus WHHS and seven against Pickens.
“The girls came out and were playing good and feeling confident,” Wright said. “We’re shooting the ball a heck of a lot better than we were at the beginning. There was so much learning that first part of the season, and now we’re starting to put it together, which is really nice.
“Seeing the girls plying team ball and incorporating those little things is what’s been helping us lately.”
Charley Poteet scored eight for GHS, Ray and Chastain added six each, Riblet had five, and both Bradshaw and Bramlett finished with two.
GHS is 3-15 overall and played Dawson County at press deadline. Gilmer will host Lumpkin County Friday at 6 p.m. and Southeast Whitfield Saturday at 3 p.m.
Junior varsity
The JV Lady Cats faced Pickens last Friday and trounced the Dragonettes, 47-17.
Eight players scored for GHS, and Amayah Jones’ 15 first half points led the way. Teammate Bree Burnette added 11 on the day.
Pickens’ most productive quarter came in the first when it mustered 11 points. However, PHS only managed two points in each of the final three quarters. Gilmer turned its 15-11 lead into a 28-13 advantage at the half.
GHS continued its runaway as J.B. Queen, Burnette, Alaina Miltiades and Gracie Gaitanoglou scored two and Carley Becerra added a free throw.
The Cats led 37-15 and scored 10 in the fourth to further distance themselves from the Dragonettes.
Remaining Gilmer points were scored by Lady Cats Becerra and Miltiades (five), Gaitanoglou (four), Addie Vick (three) and Queen and Cate Carder (two).