Lady Bobcats Lose Close One to Lady Tigers

The Gilmer Lady Bobcats lost a heartbreaker to the Lady Tigers of Dawson County 46-44. In a game that was wrought with drama, the home team Lady Bobcats fell just short after Haley Garner went coast to coast to hit a lay up which cut the lead to one with 18 seconds left in the game. However, Gilmer failed to foul before letting 15 seconds run off the clock and was done in by a last second free throw.The game began with a 6-2 run by the Lady Bobcats which featured a heavy dose of post work from Brittany Lowman. The Lady Tigers cut the lead to one 6-5 by grabbing most of the available offensive rebounds, which led to a plethora of second chance shots. A three pointer by Samantha Mashburn gave the home team a 9-5 lead and the quarter ended with Gilmer up 9-7.

The second quarter featured both teams battling back and forth. Dawson County tied the game up 11-11 after a minute of play in the second quarter, but another three by Mashburn broke the tie. With just over five minutes left in the half Gilmer was up by one, 16-15. The Lady Bobcats then proceeded to go on a 8-1 run to close to the half, which gave them a 24-16 half time lead.

Dawson County began the second half on a 7-0 run which cut the Gilmer lead to one, 24-23. Both teams came out in full court press defense, however, the home team seemed to struggle more. The Lady Tigers were able to tie the game up 25-25 with just over four minutes left in the third. Their first lead of the game came with 38.8 seconds left in the third, but a buzzer beating three pointer by Jenny Parks gave Gilmer a one point, 30-29, lead going in the game’s final quarter.

Things started off well for the home team as Dawson County had a five second violation to begin the quarter. Both teams continued to trade baskets and turnovers in the first few seconds of the quarter, but a 6-2 run by Gilmer gave the home team a 36-31 lead with just under seven minutes left in the game.

The Lady Tigers went on a 5-1 run of their own to cut Gilmer’s lead to one, 37-36. A three pointer by the away team gave them a 39-37 lead with just over three and half minutes left in the game.

With the Lady Tigers up by three, Lowman cut the lead to two when she made one of two free throws. Garland tied the game up, 40-40, with just over two minutes left with two free throws. After three Dawson County free throws gave them a 43-40 lead, Garner stole the ball in the back court, was fouled and subsequently hit both free throws to cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left in the game.

Gilmer began intentionally fouling, and much to the home crowd’s dismay, the Lady Tigers were able to hit three of four and preserve the victory.