Better second-half execution gets Gilman past Colby 53-44

GILMAN GIRLS BASKETBALL

Playing a little bit slower and a little smarter paid off offensively Tuesday for the Gilman Pirates, who turned a solid second half performance into a 53-44 home win over the Colby Hornets.

The Pirates got themselves into a 28-22 halftime hole thanks in part to rushed shots and rushed passes, several of which turned into turnovers against Colby’s 1-3-1 zone defense.

After halftime, the Pirates were more patient on the offensive end and were able to break down the Hornets to get more good looks, turning them into points. Gilman’s 2-3 zone gave up seven 3s, but very little inside. Colby made just 18 of 66 shots overall (27.3%), which wound up not being enough for the Hornets to hold up against Gilman’s improved production in the second half.

“In the first half we got into a running game that was out of control,” Gilman head coach Tammy Weir said. “But once we got back into a good set halfcourt offense where we worked the ball, everything fell into place. The girls had 10 turnovers the first half, but turned it around in the second half and ended with only 15. This is a great improvement from where we have been.”

Gilman improved to 3-2 in Eastern Cloverbelt Conference play and 4-3 overall with the win, while Colby dropped to 1-3, 1-5.

Gilman started the second half with a well-executed possession that got them a Tatum Weir score in the paint off a Danielle Mann assist. Weir’s 3-pointer got the Pirates within one, but Colby went on a mini 6-2 spurt to extend to a 34-29 lead with just under 13 minutes to play. Out of a timeout, Gilman freed up Kayleigh James for a short shot off a high-low assist from Mann. Mann scored out of the low post to cut the lead to one, then she hit a jumper from the free throw line to finally put Gilman ahead. James nailed a 3-pointer from the left side and suddenly Gilman led 38-34 with 10:30 to go. James, who scored all seven of her points in the second half, sprinted to a layup off a long defensive rebound, then Mann pushed the ball ahead to Ava Warner, who hit a tough shot in transition. Mann scored off a baseline pass from Allison Olynick, then she ripped the ball away from a Hornet and went coast-to-coast to open up a 46-34 Gilman lead with less than eight minutes left.

Colby got as close as 50-44 on an Angelique Hernandez triple with 3:40 left, but that wound up being Colby’s last points.

Weir had 23 points, 15 rebounds and came up two blocked shots shy of a triple- double. She had two assists and two steals. Mann had a double-double as well with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals. Warner and Claire Drier had a basket apiece and Olynick added a late free throw. James had seven rebounds. Drier had four rebounds and two assists. Olynick had five rebounds and four assists. Warner had two rebounds.

Gilman had a 43-32 edge in rebounding and forced 18 Colby turnovers.

“We outrebounded Colby and had 12 nice assists off of our 22 made baskets,” Tammy Weir said. “We had 10 steals, which were huge. I was happy with our zone defense and the way we handled the pressure that Colby put on us.”

Kylie Orth led Colby with 10 points, while Harrison Schmitt added nine on three 3-pointers.

After a busy first few weeks to the season, Gilman gets some much-needed gym time as it is off until a Dec. 15 trip to Columbus Catholic.

“We have a little break here before Columbus, so it’ll be nice to take some time and focus on a few things that we need to finish off our run before the holidays,” Tammy Weir said.

Neillsville 90, Gilman 31

The Neillsville Warriors were having a little trouble scoring while still winning their first three games handily, but that slump ended Friday at Gilman’s expense in a 90-31 blowout.

The Warriors got into a groove, scoring several transition buckets early, many off Gilman turnovers against their pressure. Then, as the game progressed, they started knocking down 3s and elbow jumpers with ease and raced to a 61-15 halftime lead.

Obviously, that brought Gilman’s three-game winning streak to a screeching halt.

“Neillsville is as tough as ever,” coach Weir said. “Their shooting percentage was off the charts at 68% from the field and 58% for 3-pointers. We turned the ball over 26 times, and really struggled with their press. We found some of our weaknesses and now we can get back in the gym and focus on a few items to improve.”

The Pirates did get a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double from Tatum Weir, who also blocked two shots and had an assist. Mann added 10 points, getting some offensive putbacks and a 3-pointer. She had four rebounds and two assists and hit a half-court shot that unfortunately came just after the halftime buzzer.

Warner hit a 3-pointer and had two rebounds and an assist. Drier scored off a late steal. James had three rebounds and two assists. Jaylyn Orth had a rebound and a blocked shot.

The Warriors got 22 points from their standout guard Delaney Rochester, including three 3-pointers. Amelia Trunkel also hit a trio of 3s and finished with 19 points and Sydney Subke had a big allaround game with 16 points, four assists and five steals.