Gilmer and Wesleyan took the court in a meeting between two of the region’s top teams.
The GHS Bobcats hosted the Wolves last Tuesday, and Wesleyan was buoyed by Josh Kavel’s 26-point performance.
Wesleyan led by four points with a quarter to play, and the Bobcats’ desperation shot at the buzzer did not fall as the Wolves escaped with a 62-59 victory.
Head coach Jordan Hice discussed the game and where he believed the Bobcats faltered.
“I didn’t feel like we had very good effort defensively,” he said. “It just seemed like one of those days where we weren’t protecting the rim, and we were letting the guard penetrate past the first man. Defensively, it was a breakdown and lack of effort.
“No. 3 (Kavel) killed us. We knew going in he was a good driver and a good shooter. The primary defense was letting him get by, help-side defense wasn’t coming in to help, and we didn’t protect the rim. I felt like we let one person basically beat us through that whole game.”
Eighteen turnovers plagued the Cats, which Wesleyan converted into 22 points on the night. Two post points by Jackson McVey came before threes by Kohan Davis and Ryder Wofford to start the game, but GHS saw its 8-0 lead disappear.
Gilmer committed seven turnovers in the first quarter, and its lead was cut to 15-13.
Five more turnovers through the first 3 1/2 minutes of the second quarter allowed Wesleyan to go on a 9-2 run. A three pointer by both Wofford and Keegen Bryant helped reel the Wolves back in, and another three by Christian Sumner before the halftime buzzer evened the score at 27-all.
GHS limited Kavel to 11 points in the third and fourth quarters, but the Wolves soon found an edge elsewhere.
“We did a little better of stopping him in the second half, but they called so many fouls. They shot 21 free throws and 18 were in the second half,” Hice said.
Wesleyan made 4/6 free throws in the third and shot 6/12 from the line in the fourth quarter, and the Wolves went on a 7-0 run to begin the second half.
Both Bryant and McVey scored five points in the third for GHS, and Wesleyan’s lead stood at 46-42 with eight minutes to play.
McVey added five straight points to begin the fourth, and two more in the post by Wofford gave GHS a three-point lead. Trailing 52-48, the Wolves’ 9-0 burst moved them back ahead, 57-52, with 2:45 on the clock.
Another Bryant three pointer stopped the Cats’ scoring drought, and the Wolves still led 59-57 with 33 seconds remaining. GHS was forced to foul, and while Wesleyan missed both free throws, an offensive rebound and putback gave them a four-point cushion.
Bryant drove for two points before the Wolves were sent to the foul line once more, ahead, 61-59. They made the first and missed the second but snatched another offensive board.
Another GHS foul resulted in two more free throws and both were missed. Gilmer was finally able to corral a defensive rebound, and Bobcat J.D. Taylor was fouled with three hundredths of a second still on the clock.
Gilmer’s final inbound and heave missed and Wesleyan celebrated the win.
McVey led GHS with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Bryant added 16 points and four assists, Wofford went for nine points and seven boards and Sumner scored nine.
In addition to Kavel, Wesleyan guard Thomas Chipman and post Brayden Tidwell each scored 10.
The Bobcats are 10-6, which includes a 2-3 region record. GHS hosts Pickens (7-10) Friday at 8:30 p.m.