CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With a significant size advantage and an ability to disrupt opposing offenses by way of full court pressure and consistent traps, No. 1 Gilmer County figured to pose significant challenges to No. 4 Cameron in Friday’s Class A semifinal.
The Dragons hardly had an answer for either as the Titans dominated from start-to-finish in a 48-16 victory at the Charleston Coliseum.
“Our defense definitely showed up again. We forced Cameron out of their comfort zone and to take tough shots,” Titans’ head coach Amy Chapman said. “A lot of our offense was created by our defense and that was good. We ran the floor well, made good decisions with the basketball and did a good job executing offensively to get it inside.”
The win sends GCHS (22-4) into a state title game for the third time in four years, with the Titans having lost to the three-time defending state champion Dragons on both previous occasions.
There will be a different opponent this time around after Gilmer followed Thursday’s 41-point victory against Notre Dame with another runaway win.
CHS (18-4) turned it over five times before attempting a shot, and the Titans ran off the first nine points, held the Dragons without a field goal in the opening period and led 25-2 through 8 minutes.
“We knew what we were getting into when we got the No. 4 seed. We knew Gilmer’s the buzzsaw this year,” Cameron head coach Holly Pettit said. “That same time last year played with the state championship we had from last year and we lost 4 starters. we have nobody over 5-9 and they have several over 6-foot. We knew we were outsized. Unfortunately, we didn’t compete as we wanted to.“
Point guard Allie Ellyson helped key the strong start by scoring nine points in the opening period, while 6-foot-4 teammate Ava Dobbins poured in eight.
It took until 4:46 before halftime for the Dragons to make one of their two field goals, both of which Maci Neely accounted for.
“We are really scrappy on defense and very technical,” Chapman said. “We pressured the ball very well and people were in passing lanes. We defended screens well and did a good job helping on that. The bigs inside did a great job altering shots and being a rim protector if they did get past the guards.”
Ellyson went to halftime with 15 points and Dobbins had 12, helping the Titans build a 36-9 lead.
“I’m really excited. I have been on waiting on this since last March. I know we deserve to be here,” Ellyson said. “The team vibes are really good. We’ve worked hard and we’re happy to be here for tomorrow.”
A low-scoring second half saw GCHS rest several key components to its squad for the second straight day as a result of the lopsided margin.
Ellyson did not score after halftime and added five steals, while Dobbins led all players with 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Kenley Hartshorn added seven points and 10 boards in the win.
The Dragons had appeared in four straight state title games.
“These girls can say they’ve been a part of history. Nobody thought we’d make it to Charleston this year, let alone win in the first round,” Pettit said.
Neely, who made the game-winning basket at the buzzer to lift the Dragons over the Titans in the 2022 title game, led the team with nine points in what amounted to her first state tournament setback.
“Maci was on ESPN,” Pettit said. “How many kids can say that? These girls will be fine.“