The Gilmer High Lady Cats were back on the basketball court for three games and notched a noneregion win.
The Cats welcomed Southeast Whitfield to the GHS gym last Saturday, and an explosive second half allowed Gilmer to blast the Raiders for a 63-20 victory.
GHS began last week on Tuesday at Dawson County. The Lady Cats were never able to get their offense in gear in a 54-22 loss. Gilmer hosted No. 2 ranked Lumpkin County Friday, and the defending state champion Indians put the game away early for a 74-25 win.
Gilmer made 11 three pointers versus Southeast and also turned 34 Raider turnovers into 34 points.
“We shot well from outside and Charley (Poteet) hit five threes,” head coach Dani Wright said. “I thought there was a lot of good team ball. For example, at the end of the game, Bree (Burnette) could have made a layup but instead she passed it up for someone in front of her for a layup. Seeing that unselfish basketball was really nice. It was refreshing to see.”
The Cats made three from behind the arc in the first quarter, which helped them open a 12-7 lead. GHS went ice cold in the second and made just one shot from the field. The Raiders continued to struggle with ball security and finding open shots as GHS led 18-10 at the half.
Gilmer reversed its fortunes over the third and fourth quarters. The Lady Cats made 48 percent of their shots and drained seven three pointers.
Meanwhile, Southeast relied almost solely on the free-throw line. The Raiders made two shots from the field in the second half and Gilmer put the game away.
The Cats’ lead stood at 41-18 headed into the fourth where they extended it to 43 points.
Poteet finished with 15 points and she was followed by Aliza Chastain (12), Lucy Ray (10), Chelsey Griggs (seven), Madison Bradshaw (five), Amayah Jones and Burnette (four), Marley Boatwright (three), Grace Bramlett (two) and Maddie Wright (one).
Ray and Griggs both grabbed four rebounds, while Sophia Riblet, Chastain and Burnette each had three assists. The Cats were 10/10 from the free-throw line.
The competition was ramped up significantly when GHS faced Dawson and Lumpkin. Against the Tigers, GHS made 15 percent of its shots, which included a 2/26 effort on two-point attempts.
Dawson drained 12 three pointers on the night and opened a 34-10 halftime lead. The deficit stood at 46-17 with eight minutes to play as the Tigers cruised to victory.
Ray, Burnette, Riblet and Wright all scored four points for GHS. Boatwright, Chastain and Bradshaw each added three.
The hard-charging Indians were off and running in the first quarter where they racked up 33 points. Lumpkin shot 62 percent from the field on the night and tallied 42 points in the paint. Thirty-four Indian points came off Lady Cat turnovers.
“Those girls were hitting shots, and they were 12/13 in the first quarter. Everyone is getting better right now, and our region is just a bloodbath,” Wright said.
GHS made 3/17 three-point attempts and trailed 33-9 after eight minutes of play. LCHS moved ahead 54-12 at the half and 74-17 entering the fourth.
Ray led the Cats with six points, Poteet and Bradshaw scored five and Burnette finished with four.
Two weeks remain in the regular season, and Wright mentioned what she would like to accomplish over that span.
“We’ve made small goals, and it’s been fun to see them blossom and work together. I like the team ball I’m seeing now, and I want to continue to see that. There are a lot of things we’re still working on. Defensively, we want to react to the pass and not stand there watch the pass. And our transition game, too, we’re still trying to get that to be better.”
GHS (4-17) hosted No. 5 ranked White County at press deadline and travels to No. 3 Wesleyan Friday for a 7 p.m. game. Gilmer makes its way to Southeast Whitfield Saturday for a rematch at 3 p.m.