The Gilmer High School Lady Cats basketball team hosted the Monroe Lady Tornadoes in the “Sweet 16” second round of the State Tournament, falling 53-40 and ending the Lady Cats careers of seniors, Bailey Charles, Hannah Colwell, Megan Flowers, and Megan Allen.The game began with Monroe moving out to a 7-0 lead thanks in large part to a stifling full court press defense. A Hannah Jones free throw with 3:25 left in the first quarter sparked a 5-0 Gilmer run that cut the lead to two after Emily Sanford found Kaylee “TJ” Deyton for a layup with 1:20 left in the first period; however, Monroe responded with a quarter closing 4-2 run that put the lady Tornadoes ahead 11-7 going into the second quarter.

The Lady Cats opened up the second quarter with some full court press and cut the lead to two again with a Whitley Reece jumper with just over five and half minutes left in the first half. The teams traded runs back and forth throughout the quarter until it closed with Monroe up three, 21-18.

Megan Allen led the defense three blocks in the half, one of which led to Sanford closing the half going coast to coast to draw a foul and hit both free throws.

The second half began with both teams exercising defensive muscles. Jones tied the game at 23-23 with a layup with just under six minutes left in the third. The first Gilmer lead of the game came after Jones found Charles for a layup that resulted in a three point play that put the Lady Cats up three, 28-25.

The Lady Tornadoes responded with an 8-2 run that put Monroe up 33-30 with 3:27 left in the third. Monroe took a four point, 36-32 lead into the fourth and final quarter of the game.

The fourth quarter saw the Lady Cats unable to navigate the Lady Tornadoes’ defense as Gilmer scored only eight points in the fourth, while Monroe scored 17 to take the 53-40 victory and move on to the “Elite Eight.”

Jones led the Lady Cats with 13 points, she also had two assists and two steals. Charles finished with 12 points, two steals and three assists. Sanford had nine points, seven rebounds (six defensive), two steals and two assists.

Flowers also had seven rebounds (five offensive) with two assists, a steal and two points. Megan led the team in blocks with four, she also had three rebounds and a steal. Deyton had four rebounds (all offensive) two steals, an assist and two points.