After a pair of region setbacks, the Gilmer High Lady Cats were back to their winning ways on the basketball court last week.
GHS hosted the Dawson County Tigers Tuesday. Lady Cat post player Elly Callihan racked up 30 points on the night to help GHS earn a 60-33 win.
At Adairsville Saturday, there was little the Tigers could do to keep pace with the Cats. GHS led the entire game and returned home with a 58-29 victory.
“We did have a slow start but finally got it together and were able to get some good things going,” head coach Susan Nunn said of the win over Dawson. “I was pleased with a lot of things all the way around. Our defense was very good, especially through the second and third quarters. We lucked up a little bit in that they were not making some baskets, too, like their threes.”
Dawson made two three pointers in the opening quarter and only hit two more over the course of the game. GHS looked inside where Callihan was there for 13 points while making 5/5 from the line.
The Cats quickly added to their 16-8 lead in the second and third quarters. DCHS was limited to three points in the second and five points in the third. Gilmer opened a 24-15 lead at the half, which continually increased.
“We told them that on the days we play defense like we want them to play, we shut people down,” Nunn said. “If we can do that against Lumpkin (Wednesday), we’ll be all right. We started shutting them down and then we started kicking it in so that worked out well for us.”
While GHS made just one shot from the field in the third, the Cats did combine to convert 7/10 free throws to extend its advantage to 33-20 entering the fourth.
Eight Lady Cats added points over the final eight minutes of the game. Callihan was there for 10 more to help cement the Cats’ win.
Gilmer’s remaining points came from Emma Callihan (seven), Emma Deyton (six) Hope Colwell (five) Lark Reece (four), Beth Burnette and Brooke Wilson (three each) and Charley Poteet (two).
A struggling Adairsville team awaited GHS Saturday. Gilmer’s lead was never in doubt, and the Cats increased it throughout the game.
“We got everyone a lot of time, and got everyone in the first half and everyone in the second half,” Nunn said. “That was good for us to get some of our younger girls some time. Some of those younger ones are starting to step up a little bit and show me I can give them some time in different games.”
Six Lady Cats scored to help propel GHS to a 14-4 lead after a quarter. Neither team had an exceptional second, but the Cats still maintained a 24-11 halftime lead.
Over the final two quarters, GHS made eight three pointers, and six came in the third quarter. Both Burnette and Emma Callihan drained two from long-range as Haley Wilson and Colwell each made one. GHS made 4/4 free throws to push its lead to 46-20 with a quarter to play.
Not much changed over the final quarter, and GHS secured the 29-point nonregion win.
Emma Callihan scored 12 for GHS and Burnette added 11. Remaining points were scored by Elly Callihan (eight), Colwell (seven), Haley Wilson (six), Deyton (five), Lucy Ray (four), Reece (three) and Poteet (two).
“We had several girls hitting shots and doing well. It was one of those where their team is struggling a little,” Nunn said. “We knew going in we just needed to take care of business, don’t let anything sneak up on us and give us a loss we don’t need. We did what we were supposed do and finished the game out with everyone getting some good time.”
GHS has a 13-4 overall record. The Cats faced North Hall at press deadline and hosts Lumpkin County Wednesday at 6 p.m. They will travel to Cherokee Bluff Friday for a 7 p.m. game.