Gilmer High School hosted the alumni basketball games, where both female and male alums challenge the current “Cats.” In both games the Gilmer geriatrics were euthanized by the youth on the floor. The Lady Bobcats beat their older counterparts 60-36, and the boys won 77-49. The boys’ win enabled, head coach, Jordan Hice to secure family bragging rights, as the male Alums were coached by former Bobcat coach, Gene Hice, father of Jordan.In both games the youngsters were down early but managed to comeback harder than John Travolta, using second quarter defenses that were stingier than the old school Steelers “Steel Curtain Defense.” Combined, the alums managed to score a total of nine, second quarter points.

The Lady Bobcats were down 6-0 early, and were down 8-2 at the end of the first. Alums Kylie Smith, running the point guard, and current 9th grade/JV girls’ basketball coach, Sarah Ledford in the post, were connecting like Stockton and Malone early on. Smith was dishing dimes like she was trying to dial 867-5309 looking for “Jenny.” However, the alums were outscored 19-4 in the second quarter and were down 21-12 at the half.

Bobcats Past and Present
(Photo by LT Melton)

The Lady Bobcats adjusted to the intensity of their more seasoned opponents, and began to crash the glass hard in the second quarter. Ansley Mulkey was nailing down boards like a “Habitat for Humanity” worker, providing a plethora of second chance scoring opportunities as well as limiting the alums’ shot attempts. Brittany Lowman gave the current “Cats” their first lead of the night from the free throw line and the lead was never relinquished.

The boys’ game mirrored the girls’ game. The alums raced out to a 19-10 lead to end the first quarter, due in to small part to alumnus Chris Berry cleaning glass like George always wanted Florence to do; however, much like their female counterparts, the male alums were done in by a second quarter filled with more turnovers than a bakers’ kitchen.

The boys’ team switched to a full court press in the second half which befuddled the alums. After Connor Webb tied the game up 19-19 from the free throw line with just over five minutes left in the first half, the boys began the blowout.

The male alums did not score in the second quarter until 3:37 left in the half, making the score 27-21 in favor of the current “Cats.” A three pointer by Joe Bob Charles, immediately followed by a salute to the crowd, made the score 34-21 with just under two minutes left. The alums were down 41-24 when the half ended.

Lady “Cats” Scholarship Winners
(Photo by LT Melton)

The second half of both games featured the “Young Guns” showing the “Old Guard” why Bruce Springstein called them “Glory Days.” The alums simply had no answer for their younger opponents speed, athleticism and youthful exuberance, despite Ledford’s last ditch effort to foul with 1.4 seconds left in the game.

Donations were taking to benefit the Lady “Cats” Scholarship Award. The current scholarship winners were announced before the game. The winners were; Karletta McCoy; Kali Henderson; Ashlyn Reece; Kristin Price; Bethany Rhodes; Holli Gibbs; Tori Jones; Megan Strawbridge; Sarah Jones; Carley Blocker; Ashley Waters; and Katie Collins.