The Gilmer High School Bobcats basketball team traveled to Southeast Whitfield Tuesday night to take on the Raiders. Following a blowout win by the Lady “Cats,” the Bobcats looked to play in similar fashion. The Raiders gave it all, but the “Cats” would prevail as they won 70-64.The Bobcats won the tip, but it went out of bounds giving the ball to Southeast. The Raiders hit a long three to open the scoring, but Tanner Reece answered with two buckets of his own to give the “Cats” an early 4-3 lead.

The Raiders would knock down another long shot, but Joe Bob Charles would answer with three straight baskets, one of them a three. Wheeler Lancey got the hot hand, hitting his next three shots and building a small lead causing a Raider timeout.

Charles scored another two off of an offensive rebound, a theme that would continue throughout the night for the “Cats.” The first quarter came to a close, and the Cats were on top 21-15.

Hayden Hoquest opened scoring for the “Cats” in the second quarter, to give them an eight point lead. Bailey Allen grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled. He made one of the free throws, and Charles tipped one in.

The Raiders was closing the gap, getting all the way back to within one point. A steal and a fast break had SEW poised to take the lead, but Hoequest had other plans as he came up with a big block.

An Allen pass to Lancey led to two more points for the “Cats.” Charles picked up his third foul and was forced from the contest. The Raiders picked up the pace and started to press, which lead to multiple Bobcat turnovers. Head coach, Jordan Hice, called a timeout and got things straightened out. Yet another offensive rebound and putback followed by a couple of made free throws by Allen gave the Bobcats a 32-27 halftime lead.

Gilmer started the second half with the ball and scored early and often. Lancey hit a three and assisted Reece on a bucket in the paint. Lancey then lobbed one in on the inbound and Charles finished it with a lay in putting the Cats up 44-33.

The press was back on for the Raiders as SEW tried to slow the Bobcat offense. Lancey found Charles on a press breaking pass and he scored another two. Reece then went back to work as he scored two in a row, one off of an offensive rebound. Charles finished out the scoring in the third period and Gilmer held a 52-43 lead.

Reece continued his dominance in the paint with another offensive rebound and putback extending the lead to 54-43. Southeast answered with back-to-back three pointers to close the gap to five points.

Reece again made a big play with a block down low. Southeast still had trimmed the lead to three points when the Bobcats crashed the boards again with another offensive rebound that turned into two points.

Reece fouled out of the game with 3:10 left and the Raiders tied it at 56-56. Allen stepped up and broke the press for an easy layup, then stole a Raider pass and got the and-one for a three point play.

Allen would eventually foul out, but the five point lead he gave the “Cats” was enough to put the Raiders in panic mode. SEW started fouling and the “Cats” kept the ball in the hands of the best shooter.

Charles scored the final nine points for the “Cats,” seven of which were from the charity stripe. This put the game away, and the Cats came out on top 70-64.

Gilmer had a great game on the glass, pulling in offensive rebounds that lead to a plethora of second chance points. The team was short-handed as Corey Waters is still participating with the football team, and Chandler Burrell is out with an ankle injury.

Reece showed improved aggressiveness in the paint which lead to a big game from him. Charles led the Bobcats in scoring with 29 points. Lancey scored 15, Reece chipped in 12, and Allen had 10 points. The Bobcats will look to continue the winning ways Friday night, as Gilmer hosts Murray County.