Pirates build big lead at Flambeau, lose it, win game at the end
GILMAN GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cruising with a comfortable lead most of the way, things got uncomfortable late for the Gilman Pirates, who let a 20-point second-half lead slip away before regaining control in the final minutes Monday and escaping Flambeau with a 43-40 win.
Tatum Weir recorded her third tripledouble of the season and hit the go-ahead bucket off a lob pass from Kayleigh James, putting an end to Flambeau’s 26-6 run that tied the game. Weir’s final numbers included 18 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.
Claire Drier had a solid offensive night and gave the Pirates a two-possession lead by putting back a missed 3-point try by Danielle Mann to make it 42-38. A couple of strong defensive possessions kept Flambeau from scoring until Ali Hruby grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Brooklyn Ludescher for a lay-in with less than 30 seconds to play. Mann’s free throw forced Flambeau to attempt a desperation 3, which Madyson Martin missed at the buzzer.
Mann had a double-double for Gilman, who improved to 6-4 overall, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. She added three steals, an assist and a blocked shot. Drier had nine points, two assists and two steals.
Playing their first game since Dec. 20, the Pirates came out sharp, executing well to get good looks on offense and making things difficult on the Falcons (0-5), who forced several out-of-rhythm shots against Gilman’s 2-3 zone and committed the majority of their 23 turnovers in the first half, which ended with Gilman leading 30-11.
“Overall, the first half was great – great defense and smart offense,” Gilman head coach Tammy Weir said. “The second half, we just had a tough time handling their pressure.”
Weir scored six early points, Mann and James hit a hoop apiece and Drier hit a long two-point shot as Gilman surged ahead 12-1. Weir scored inside and kicked the ball out to Mann for a 3-pointer. Mann added a jumper off an inbound play to make it 19-4. Mann’s three-point play off an offensive rebound gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the half at 28-8.
Weir’s offensive putback got the lead back to 20 early in the second half at 32-12. While Flambeau chipped away, Gilman’s lead didn’t seem to be in grave danger as the Pirates still led by double digits heading under the seven-minute mark. But that’s when the combination of missed shots, offensive rebounds by the Falcons and turnovers against more aggressive man-to-man defense started and turned the game around.
Flambeau cut the lead to single digits for the first time at 37-29 on a 3-pointer from Elizabeth Biller-Skogstad. Hruby scored twice and Tatum Shilts sank a 3 and suddenly, it was 38-36. Shilts had a toe on the line for a long two-point shot that tied it at 38-38, setting the stage for Weir’s go-ahead shot where James lobbed the ball over the fronting Ludescher and Weir got her shot up just before the helpside defender arrived.
James had two points for Gilman to go with five steals and three assists. Ava Warner had a hoop, three rebounds and a steal and Allie Olynick had a point and two assists.
Hruby led Flambeau with 12 points, while Shilts added 11.
Gilman’s Tuesday game with Lake Holcombe was postponed due to the icy weather with no make-up date announced. The Pirates are in Augusta tonight, Thursday, for a 6:30 non-conference game with the Beavers. Gilman resumes Eastern Cloverbelt Conference play Tuesday at Greenwood.
