Just over a week removed from a 94-point performance that set a Gilmer Lady Cat record, they scored their fewest points of the season.
GHS faced the Baylor School Red Raiders in the first round of the Carpet Capital Christmas Classic last Friday and points were at a premium.
The Red Raiders depended on the three-point shot, and they got hot in the second half after a Lady Cat comeback. Despite its offensive struggles, GHS still had a chance to tie the game at the end, but the shot did not fall and Baylor won, 42-39.
Following the game, Gilmer coach Susan Nunn was not certain what led to the Cats’ off night.
“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively at all,” she said. “We were in slow motion and shots were not going in, and I’m not sure what the reason was. We just couldn’t get any rhythm going at all.”
Baylor made 12 shots from the field on the day and eight were from three-point land. Meanwhile, GHS made 11 shots from the field, but only two in the first half. Neither team scored through the game’s first four minutes.
Gilmer’s offense was supplemented by a 7/10 performance from the free-throw line through two quarters. GHS led 6-5 after a quarter, and Baylor pulled ahead 20-11 at halftime.
In the third quarter, it was Baylor’s turn to go cold offensively. Bailey Teague, Elly Callihan and Emma Callihan all scored on Gilmer’s 13-0 run to begin the third. A late three pointer accounted for Baylor’s only points. GHS slipped ahead 26-23 at the end of the quarter when Hope Colwell hit a three at the buzzer.
Gilmer deployed a different defense in the third quarter, but by the fourth, Baylor got its offense rolling from beyond the three-point arc.
Gilmer converted four free-throw attempts early in the fourth, and Teague hit a jumper from the high post while Elly Callihan went to work down low. On its offensive end, Baylor sank threes on five straight possessions.
“We switched to a 2-3 defense instead of man or a pressure 1-2-2, and it worked for us for a little while, but then they started knocking down three pointers,” Nunn said. “Part of that was us not recovering in that 2-3 defense so we had to go back out of it. So while it got us back in the game, it also took us out of the game.”
Baylor took a 39-38 lead with 1:37 to play, and Gilmer was unable to score on ensuing back-to-back possessions.
Baylor still led by a point with 40 seconds on the clock, and GHS was forced to foul. However, it took five straight fouls to finally put the Red Raiders in the bonus. By that time, only 10 seconds remained, and Baylor held a three-point edge after making both free throws.
Teague fouled out in Gilmer’s late fouling frenzy, and Elly Callihan was unable to make a deep three-point shot at the buzzer.
Elly Callihan led GHS with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Teague scored 11, Emma Callihan had eight, and Colwell finished with four points and collected four rebounds.
Gilmer defeated Franklin 56-26 in the consolation bracket and will wrap up the tournament at Monday’s press deadline.