The Lady Cats held their Purple and White basketball scrimmages prior to the Bobcats last week.
The Purple Lady Cats built a healthy lead after the first quarter. However, lineups were shuffled for the fourth and the Lady Cat starters took the court as the White squad.
White ignited its comeback with a full-court press and came away with a 60-48 win.
Head coach Susan Nunn discussed the scrimmage, which took place a week earlier than expected because of a referee shortage.
“One thing we wanted to work on was our conditioning,” Nunn said. “We’re playing a week earlier than we intended on playing the game so I didn’t have everything in that I wished we had in. But with what we had in I felt we’re on track for the most part as far as where we need to be at this point.
“We still have to work on some things on the offensive end so that people know where to be and when. For the most part I was very pleased.”
No matter which team had possession, offense was concentrated into the post. That is where White’s Elly Callihan and Purple’s Emma Deyton scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, through three quarters.
“They’re going to have to be big parts for us this year, and I think they’re both good with that,” Nunn said. “They’re happy to have the ball in their hands and that’s a good thing. I was hoping to get Beth (Burnette) the ball a little more on the outside. I feel like she is probably our best three-point shooter this year, and we intend for her to put the ball up a lot.
“Our defensive pressure is on target of where we need to be. We’ve got a few good things going.”
White slipped ahead 12-10 by the end of the first period. Purple went on an 11-0 run to start the second quarter as Deyton went to work in the post, and Emma Callihan hit a three.
Purple led 28-20 at the half and scored six straight points to start the third quarter. Elly Callihan netted six straight for White. Purple kept churning out points and Lucy Ray was there to add six more for Purple as they built a 42-28 lead entering the fourth.
With the Lady Cat starters in White to start the fourth, the comeback was on. White pounded the post in the half court and snagged steals for layups with its press. White scored 13 consecutive points in the fourth before Brooke Wilson stopped their run with two in the post.
White pulled ahead with 4:30 left on the clock and finished strong down the stretch outscoring Purple 15-4 to come away with 12-point win.
Elly Callihan scored 25, Lark Reece had a strong fourth quarter and finished with 16, and Deyton tallied 16 as well. Hope Colwell scored 12, Ray and Emma Callihan, and Wilson all scored 10.
The season is set to start Saturday for GHS. The COVID-19 pandemic kept them out of the gym over the summer.
“We didn’t practice all summer long and haven’t touched a ball really since last season as far as having everyone together,” Nunn said. “That’s a little bit of a scary thing going into a new season and new region. I don’t have any real information of what to expect from each of those teams. This summer we intended on going to a camp where most of these teams would be, but we didn’t’ get to do that. We’re going into it a little bit blind but are going to do the best we can.”
GHS will begin the ETC Tipoff Tournament Saturday against Copper Basin at 6 p.m. Gilmer will take on Fannin and Pickens at home Monday and Tuesday with respective tipoffs of 6 p.m.