The Gilmer High Bobcats missed free throws and missed beating Pickens.
GHS began the ETC/Piedmont Mountainside Tip-off Tournament against the Dragons last Saturday and missed 15 shots from the foul line. Shooting 31 percent from the free-throw line while dealing with injuries and foul trouble led to a 67-64 loss.
“We started out in the first half with quite a bit of turnovers and cleaned that up in the second half,” coach Jordan Hice said. “It didn’t help that Carson (Pierce) went down and then Cade (Carter) fouled out. Those were our two leading scorers when Carson went down.
“Free throws, we were 7/22, and that’s what killed us.”
Carter led GHS with 17 points and 11 rebounds despite not playing the final 5:50 of the game. Pierce had netted nine points by the time he was injured and left the game 2:30 into the second half.
When the Cats were at full strength, they were able to open a six-point lead after a quarter as Carter was there for 10 points and Luke Wimpey added seven. Both teams flew up and down the floor with little time spent setting up an offense as they found open paths to the basket for layups.
Pickens’ Tucker Lowe scored 10 of his team-high 21 points in the first quarter. Carter went to the bench early in the second, and PHS cut into Gilmer’s lead by going on an 8-0 run.
Wimpey broke Gilmer’s 5:20 scoring drought, and the teams swapped points over the remainder of the half. Pickens hit a three pointer on their final possession, and Carter answered with one at the buzzer, and GHS trailed, 34-33.
Wimpey, Jenkins and Brady Sanford all hit threes in the third to keep Gilmer’s offense afloat. The Dragons made two from outside but also found some offense in the post from Noah Sutton.
The fourth quarter began with the score knotted at 50-all. GHS got a boost from Jenkins, who scored seven of his 10 points in the fourth, but the Cats missed Pierce’s and Carter’s presence.
The score was tied 56-56 with two minutes to play before a three by Dragon Luke Rogers and two more in transition from Lowe.
Jenkins and Wimpy both hit threes to keep GHS close. Behind 63-62 with 50 seconds left, Pickens shot 4/8 from the line, which was just enough as Gilmer could not take advantage at its offensive end.
Wimpey scored 15 on the night for GHS, and Sutton added 13 to Lowe’s 21 for the Dragons.
The Bobcats began the season four days earlier at home against Sonoraville and dealt the Phoenix a 49-46 loss thanks to a three pointer in the waning seconds.
“The first game is always crazy, and we had a ton of turnovers (25) and were lucky to win it,” Hice said. “We shot the ball really well. We hit some threes and that helped, and Carson and Brady led in scoring (with 12 apiece). Another factor, Cade only played half of that game because of foul trouble. A big thing right now is cutting down on fouls and keeping everybody healthy.
“Sanford hit a three with 12 seconds left to put us up by three, and we just held them off with some good defense.”
Carter and Wimpey both scored eight points and Jenkins had seven.
GHS played Hiwassee Dam at Monday’s press deadline and will finish the tournament Tuesday against Fannin County.