With the last night of the Tip-off Classic finally here, the opportunity for the boys and girls of Gilmer basketball to put some championship hardware in the school’s trophy case was in reach. The Pickens teams came in to stop the undefeated run of Gilmer and put a damper on the plans of Coach Nunn and Coach Hice.
The Lady Cats took the floor for the six o’clock game with the Nettes sitting on the other bench as their opponents. These two teams play in a rivalry known as the battle of 515 and always play tight when they meet. In a big win, the Lady Cats defeated Pickens by a score of 51-42 and would take their spot at center court to receive the Championship trophy after the game. Taking things into her own hands, Senior Mary Lee Callihan scored 20 points on the evening with her sister Elly Callihan following close behind with 10 points to lead the Lady Cats scoring. It is said that games are won at the free-throw line and Gilmer made it count. The Lady Cats shot 55.88%(19 of 34) from the line to pick up some much-needed points with the clock stopped. Defensively the Lady Cats struggled to contain the scoring of Pickens’ Torrie Williams who had 16 in the game. The Nettes tried to keep it close but the Lady Cats were able to enlarge the lead in the end for the victory. Congratulations to Hope Colewell, Mallory Kiser, and Mary Lee Callihan on being chosen for the All-Tournament Team.
Taking the court in game two for the Gilmer boys’ opponent were the Dragons of Pickens. The Dragons came out to give the Bobcats their first loss in the tournament but it wasn’t meant to be on this night. Both teams battled and scrapped for each and every point in a game that could not be decided in the regulation time of four quarters. The lead went back and forth throughout the game with overtime being needed to determine the outcome. In the end, the Bobcats came out on top 67-57 and earn the title of tournament champions. The free throw line proved important as it did in the Lady Cats game earlier. The Bobcats shot 15 of 21 from the line with Carter Hice going 4 of 4 in the overtime period. Gilmer had 4 athletes score double digits on the night with Kell Weaver leading the team. Weaver had 20 points, David Smith with 13, Carter Hice with 11 and Tripp Pierce had 10 to solidify the victory. The win over Pickens not only allowed the Bobcats to go undefeated in the 2018 Tip-off Classic it also gave the honor of being awarded the Championship hardware. Three Bobcats were named to the All-Tournament Team as well with Kell Weaver, Tripp Pierce, and David Smith receiving the honors.