Braymer’s Bobcats used early leads to hold off Gallatin squads in crucial Grand River Conference games Tuesday night at GHS.
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The Lady Bulldogs fell behind, 26-10, in the first quarter but battled back with one of their best three-quarter efforts of the season, despite the absence of injured point guard Sara Lin. Gallatin outscored Braymer, 56-47, in the final three periods but took a 73-66 loss.
Gallatin’s boys played catch-up basketball after digging themselves into an 8-0 hole off the opening tip. Braymer led by double digits most of the way to a 61-50 win.
In the end, the Lady Bobcat complement of inside-outside scoring proved to be too much for the Lady Bulldogs. BHS all-star center Sadie Watson scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to help her team stay unbeaten in GRC play.
Madison Mallory (20 pts.) and Mallory Hughson (14 pts.) combined to hit five of nine three-point shots in an effort to keep GHS defenders honest on the perimeter.
Gallatin forced the action in the second quarter with drives to the basket and it paid off with a 10-for-16 showing from the free throw line, including 7-of-10 from Kailey Salmon, but Braymer was able to keep an 18-lead heading into the break.
The Lady Bulldogs made a run early in the fourth quarter, kicked off by a Salmon bomb from the three-point arc. She added a deuce seconds later to go with a putback bucket by Bailey Maxwell.
Taylor Sloan popped in a pair of free throws to cut the GHS deficit to 60-53, but Watson tallied a crucial basket and free throw combination at the 3:32 mark.
The Lady Bobcats proved to be better shooters than passers or dribblers down the stretch. Braymer turned the ball over 18 times in the game with most coming late from forced and unforced errors.
Gallatin got to within 65-59 with a little over two minutes left when Maxwell nailed a shot in the lane. The Lady Bobcats hit 6-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes to close out the game.
Salmon finished with a season-best 29 points for Gallatin, including a final 11-of-16 success rate at the foul line. She also dished out four assists. Maxwell added 16 points and seven rebounds. Madison Rounkles chipped in 10 points. Taylor Sloan pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
Cats shoot 51%
Gallatin’s boys struggled to score against a Braymer team that shot 51% combined from the field. The Bobcats hit 6-of-14 three-pointers compared to none from the Bulldogs, who relied heavily on Harris Cameron’s 20-point effort inside the paint.
The Bulldogs pulled to within 25-21 early in the third quarter after a Cameron rebound and putback, but he was forced to the bench at the 4:53 mark with three fouls.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Braymer’s Austin Hall and Jordan Miller drove the score to 41-27 late in the third and Gallatin would not again see a single digit deficit.
The Bobcats proved adept at the foul line, hitting 21-of-33 attempts, including 11-of-13 from Logan O’Dell.
Jacob Boyd finished with 18 points for the Bulldogs. O’Dell led Braymer with 20 points, followed by Miller with 19 and Hall with 13.