The Gilmer High Lady Cats are heading back to the state basketball tournament.
GHS secured its state spot after earning a pair of wins in last week’s Region 7-3A tournament. The No. 3 seeded Cats hosted the No. 6 seeded Cherokee Bluff Bears Thursday and won easily, 67-40.
The Cats faced No. 2 seeded White County Saturday in the semifinals in Lumpkin. The closely played game saw GHS distance itself in the final quarter for a 64-50 victory.
The two wins also advanced GHS to the region title game Tuesday against Lumpkin County.
Reaching the state tournament and playing for a region title is where the Cats’ envisioned themselves prior to the season.
“We met the team goals we set at the start of the year. Returning players absolutely felt like this was the position we needed to be in, and if we didn’t make it this far, we didn’t do our jobs,” head coach Susan Nunn said. “I’m super proud they got that job done. In the past week preparing, we’ve done a lot of breaking down film and watching very specific things about these last couple teams we’re playing.
“That’s been very helpful, and we’ve done it all season long, but were just really meticulous about it this past week.”
GHS sisters Emma Callihan and Elly Callihan combined to outscore Cherokee Bluff by themselves with 31 and 18 points, respectively. Emma Callihan made four three pointers on the night, and Elly Callihan converted eight of 11 free throws when the Bears decided to foul.
“We started strong. In the first half, Elly only had three baskets, but she was five out of six from the free-throw line,” Nunn said.
“Emma Callihan stepped up big. She hit two threes pretty early in the first quarter and was seven of eight from the free-throw line in the game. As a senior, she has stepped up and is making sure she’s bringing her teammates along with her.”
Aside from the Callihans, Hope Colwell scored two points and Beth Burnette added a three pointer in the first as GHS opened an 18-9 lead.
CBHS was able to at least keep pace with GHS on the scoreboard in the second quarter, but were still behind 31-21 at the break.
Emma Deyton joined in the scoring action in the third as GHS continued to hum offensively. With eight minutes to play, the Cats pushed their lead to 49-28.
Lucy Ray, Lark Reece and Sarah Mulkey added points in the fourth, and the Cats’ lead swelled to 27 by the final buzzer.
Timber Gaither was the lone Bear in double figures with 20 points.
Versus White in the semifinals, neither team did much to separate itself through three quarters.
“It was close all the way up through the middle of the fourth quarter,” Nunn said. “At the end of the third, we were up seven. Emma stepped up again for us. She ended up with 24 points, and only six of those were scored in the first half.”
The Cats led by three after a quarter and 23-19 at the half. Their lead stood at 43-36 entering the fourth.
GHS drove the lane to draw fouls over the final two quarters and made 12/18 as a team, which included an 8/13 effort from Emma Callihan.
“White County is one of those intense, in-your-face teams. They don’t care if they’re going to foul you,” Nunn said. “They’re just going to try and overpower you throughout the game and wear you down. We did a good job this game of maintaining composure and not letting that get to us too bad.”
The Cats outpaced the Warriors 21-14 in the fourth. Deyton, Reece, Colwell and both Callihans netted points from the field to go with free throws to extend the lead and secure the win.
Elly Callihan added 11 points for GHS, Colwell finished with 10 and Deyton scored eight.
Gilmer (18-5) traveled to Lumpkin County (21-4) to take on the No. 2 ranked Indians on their home court for the region title at press deadline.