The Gilmer Bobcats began last week by kicking off their region basketball schedule with a victory.
GHS hosted the Southeast Whitfield Raiders Tuesday and overcame foul trouble and shaky defense for a 68-57 victory.
The Cats were on the road two days later for a nonregion game against the Murphy, N.C., Bulldogs. Gilmer’s 58-52 win marked its third in a row as the Cats improved to 5-1 overall.
“They were hitting shots and we were kind of flat,” GHS coach Jordan Hice said of the Southeast game. “I think we just got lazy. We were all hyped up on offense and giving up on defense. They were playing man defense, so we did a lot of driving and finding Cade (Carter) for easy buckets. But the thing was, we were getting easy buckets then giving them up and not getting any type of defensive stops.”
Carter scored 16 points on the night, but it was Brady Sanford who had the hot hand early with 10 points in the opening quarter. The Raiders kept pace from outside when they were not driving for layups.
GHS took a 16-10 lead into the second quarter, and the Raiders’ points came easier when Braden Jenkins and Carter went to the bench.
“Our defense wasn’t as bad until Cade and Braden got in foul trouble,” Hice said. “That kept Cade out of the middle and Braden out from the side where he is quick and doesn’t give up baseline drives. That was the biggest issue in the second.”
Seven Bobcats contributed points in the second quarter, and Gilmer’s offense was aided by a 7/11 shooting performance from the foul line. Southeast took advantage of the Bobcats’ foul issues but still trailed 30-25 at halftime.
Carter had a strong third quarter with eight points, and Sanford, Jenkins, Luke Wimpey and Ethan Banks all helped keep the Cats offense humming. The Raiders drew within two points in the third, and Gilmer’s lead grew to as many as nine points, and the Cats led 47-41 with a quarter to play.
GHS went on an 8-2 run to start the fourth, which put Southeast in a 14-point hole with five minutes to play. Southeast never got within 12 points until the final minute, and Hice believed an improved free-throw shooting performance was the difference in the game.
“We were 10/16 from the free-throw line, which is a lot better than we have been,” he said. “That helped us out a lot, and if we’re not hitting those free throws, then it’s a two-point ballgame.”
Sanford finished the game with 18 points, Wimpey and Banks scored nine each, and Jenkins had six.
The game against Murphy was a seesaw battle. GHS led 14-9 after a quarter and fell behind 30-28 at halftime. A five-point third by the Bulldogs allowed Gilmer to take 39-35 lead into the fourth.
Carter fouled out and Lewis Mulkey was there to score 14 points in a reserve role, and 10 came in the fourth to give Gilmer the edge it needed for a six-point win.
Jenkins scored 16 points on the night, Carter had 14 and Sanford finished with 13.
GHS hosted Heritage at press deadline and will travel to Ridgeland Friday for an 8:30 tipoff.
Junior varsity
Lewis Mulkey had a big night for the junior varsity as well against Murphy, but the Bulldogs escaped with a 38-36 win.
Mulkey played the first and fourth quarters and nearly sparked a GHS comeback.
The Cats trailed throughout the game, and the Bulldogs led 23-19 at the end of the third quarter. Mulkey scored 12 points in the fourth, which included two three pointers and converting 4/4 free-throw attempts.
Gilmer’s comeback bid fell just short in the end.