For the second season in a row, the Gilmer High Lady Cats finished as region runners-up.
GHS traveled to Lumpkin County last Tuesday to take on the No. 2 ranked Indians for the title. Following a sluggish start, Gilmer came alive in the second half thanks to turnovers with its full-court press.
The Cats drew within two points in the waning moments but their comeback fell just short in a 50-46 defeat.
Gilmer’s second-place finish allowed the Cats to host Ringgold for the first round of the state tournament at Tuesday’s press deadline.
“We both had a slow offensive start, and that’s unusual for both of our teams. Our slow start put us in a hole in the first half,” head coach Susan Nunn said. “I was extremely proud of how we played man defense against them throughout the game. We had a few lapses that gave them an open shot, and unfortunately, they were knocking it out from the three-point line.
“We didn’t give them anything that was easy for a long time. If we had gotten off to a little better start, it might have been a different story. We had a comeback in the fourth quarter and had the opportunity to make it happen but just didn’t pull through.”
The game’s first points were not scored until midway through the opening quarter. Gilmer got on the board after nearly five minutes of play. The Indians closed out the first with a pair of threes and two post points for an 11-6 advantage.
GHS post player Elly Callihan went to the bench in the final minute of the first with her second foul. LCHS made use of deep shots and drained seven threes on the night and five fell in the first half.
The Indians also secured offensive rebounds and tallied 12 second-chance points in the opening half and led 26-15 at the break.
Beth Burnette hit a pair of threes for GHS in the third while teammate Hope Colwell drove the lane. Colwell scored six points in the quarter, which included a 4/4 effort from the free-throw line.
Gilmer began to press in the third and it slowed the Indians’ offense. By the fourth quarter, it sparked the Cats’ comeback.
“We had pressed them in previous games and had not been very successful,” Nunn said. “We had been more successful just playing in the half court with them.
“Our intention was to not use the press a lot as long as we were staying in the ballgame. We ended up having to do it and then you second guess yourself because we did great with the press against them. We got some great baskets and great opportunities.”
GHS trailed 38-29 entering the fourth quarter.
Elly Callihan made a three pointer, and three straight Gilmer steals produced four points as the Indians’ lead was cut to 41-39 with 5:28 on the clock. The Cats did not score over the ensuing three-minute span, and LCHS pushed its lead back to five points with 2:23 to play, 46-41.
A steal and three pointer by Emma Callihan cut the margin back down to two points. Indian Isabel Davenport drew a foul and made two from the line before Colwell drove the lane for two points.
Down 48-46 with 21 seconds to play, the Cats could not get a three pointer to drop. LCHS cemented its win with a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left in the game.
“We were all very disappointed, and we could have won and had opportunities to win,” Nunn said. “We were two points down against the No. 4 team (per MaxPreps.com) in the state and that tells me we should be in every ballgame at state. That is very encouraging even though we lost.
“The effort we put in the second half to keep it close was a very good thing for us and I was very proud of them.”
Emma Callihan led GHS with 13 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Colwell added 11 points and Burnette scored nine. Elly Callihan tallied nine points as well to go with seven rebounds. Emma Deyton collected nine boards on the night, which included five on the offensive end.
Gilmer (19-5 overall) hosted Ringgold (18-9) to begin the state tournament. If the Cats win, they will play either Friday or Saturday against the winner of Oconee County versus Greater Atlanta Christian.