The Gilmer Lady Cats are on a five-game winning streak and sit atop the region.
The Cats hosted region opponent Heritage (13-4) last Friday. The top-10 ranked Generals suffered the same fate as every opponent in the GHS gym this season, as the Cats earned a 55-46 victory.
Gilmer was on the road three days prior for a nonregion game at Forsyth Central (2-14). The Bulldogs’ rough season continued as the Cats trounced the Class 6A school, 65-19.
The Cats are currently ranked No. 7 in Class 3A, undefeated at home and 4-0 in region play.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we’re getting better,” said head coach David Dowse. “Offensively, I think we’re getting better. To score 55 on a really good defensive team in Heritage, I thought was impressive. We’re sharing the ball better. We’re doing a better job of not just reading the scouting report, but applying what the scouting report is on our opponent and taking it to the floor. And I think that’s a sign of growth.”
Jace Sanderson scored a team-high 22 points against Heritage. The game was even through the first 18 points before baskets by Chelsey Griggs and Sanderson closed out the first quarter for a 13-9 lead.
The Cats scored six straight points to begin the second as its lead widened to 10 points. However, the Generals went on a run of their own with the help of a full-court press. They took advantage of close-range shots and went on a 14-0 run to pull ahead, 23-19. Another strong finish to the quarter followed, spearheaded by Mak Taylor’s two three pointers for a 29-26 lead at the break.
Sanderson scored 13 of the Cats’ 17 third-quarter points. A Heritage three with 4:35 left in the third would be its final points of the quarter. An 11-0 GHS run followed for a 46-36 advantage entering the fourth.
HHS jumped back into the press it deployed in the second quarter, but it was not nearly as effective.
“The first time they slapped it on us, we reversed the ball to one side of the floor. So we got it in, we reversed it and then it just kind of fell apart,” Dowse said. “We needed to reverse it a second time. It kind of got stuck with one person right there. And that spot was responsible for about five of the turnovers.
“So we addressed that at halftime, got the ball swung back around and got it into Chelsey’s hands. I thought she made some pretty good decisions with it.”
Gilmer maintained a 10-point cushion for much of the fourth. Heritage was able to draw within seven with a minute to play, and Gilmer knocked down three free throws to extend the lead to nine points by game’s end.
Robertson and Griggs scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Taylor added seven to go with eight rebounds. Griggs grabbed seven boards and Bree Burnette had five.
At Forsyth Central, Gilmer put the game out of reach early. The Bulldogs struggled mightily to get shots to fall and made just 15 percent. Gilmer outworked FCHS on the boards and outrebounded them, 48-26. The Cats scored over a third of their points (26) in transition, and all of the Bulldogs’ points came when they had to set up their half-court offense.
GHS surged ahead after a quarter, 26-7. The game only got more out of hand as the seconds ticked by, and Gilmer was up 41-10 at the half. The Cats entered the fourth with a 62-17 advantage, which was shortened because of point differential.
Sanderson (18 points), Taylor (14), Robertson (10) and Burnette (seven) led the way offensively. Robertson secured seven rebounds and was followed by Griggs and Jaylee McDaniel (six apiece), while Burnette and Sanderson had five each. Burnette provided seven assists, while Taylor and Sanderson had four apiece.
GHS is 10-6 overall and faced Northwest Whitfield (10-5) at press deadline. The Cats host Adairsville (6-11) Friday at 7 p.m.
“I’m really pleased with them,” Dowse said. “I think they’re having fun right now, they’re working hard in practice and they’re enjoying what they’re doing. And now seeing some success, I think it’s going to build. I would be surprised if we didn’t have more success down the stretch here.”
Junior varsity
The JV Lady Cats’ strong opening quarter left Heritage playing catch-up all day in a 28-24 GHS win.
Ally Phillips scored five in the first as both Halle West and Brenlee Daniel added four. It was the best quarter for either team as Gilmer opened a 13-4 lead.
Heritage continued to struggle in the second for a 15-8 GHS lead at halftime. Neither team totaled more than eight points in either the third or fourth quarters. While the Generals were able to trim the Cats’ lead to 21-16, their rally fell short in the fourth.
Phillips was Gilmer’s top scorer with 10, and West finished with six.