The Gilmer High Lady Cats took the court for one basketball game last week and added another win to their tally.
GHS hit the road to take on the Southeast Whitfield Raiders Tuesday and secured their seventh region triumph of the season. The Cats led from wire to wire and returned home with a 48-31 victory.
“We maintained the lead in the game the entire time,” coach Susan Nunn said. “We knew this was a team we should have success against. We also feel like they’re a bit of a wild card and have some good things going on.
“We wanted to make sure that we were cutting down on our mistakes and not doing anything that would give them easy points.”
GHS used its post presence to lead its offensive charge. Senior Jalynn Ledford scored eight points on the night, and sophomore Elly Callihan added 12 more.
The Cats held Southeast’s half-court offense in check and ramped up their defensive pressure for steals and transition baskets. Emma Callihan helped the Cats’ cause by converting Raider turnovers into Lady Cat points.
Gilmer led 10-6 after a quarter and pushed its advantage to 24-14 by the half as the Raiders refused to go quietly.
“We got some steals in our press and Emma Callihan made some great baskets off those breaks,” Nunn said. “During the second quarter, they kept it within 10, and got it a little closer than that. At halftime, it was at 10 again. They just keep kind of hanging on, and you think you’re going to get them and you don’t.
“They have some tough players, they’re just not very experienced.”
GHS doubled Southeast’s offensive production in the third quarter as Elly Callihan scored seven and the Cats’ lead increased to 41-21 entering the fourth.
Emma Callihan made both of Gilmer’s shots from the field in the fourth while the Cats combined for a 3/8 performance from the foul line over the game’s final eight minutes.
The Raiders chipped three points off the Cats’ lead, but GHS remained undefeated in region play with a 7-0 record.
Aside from Elly Callihan’s 12 and Ledford’s eight points, Emma Callihan finished with 14. She was followed by Bailey Teague (five), Hope Colwell and Beth Burnette (three), Lark Reece (two) and Jasmine Staley (one).
The Cats’ one-game schedule last week gave them the opportunity to recover from seasonal illness and regain their fitness.
“I think we’re recovered from all of our sickness, so hopefully we’re back on the mend,” Nunn said. “Sometimes after you’ve been sick for awhile, it takes a little bit of time to get back into shape and get those lungs going and feeling like you’re conditioned again.”
GHS has a 12-5 overall record and returned to the court at Tuesday’s press deadline against the Heritage Generals. The Cats will host Ridgeland Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.