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Titans advance to single-A state championship

By Kerry Patrick 4 min read

CHARLESTON -- The Gilmer County formula continues to terrify. So if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

That's the mentality Titans coach Amy Chapman and her players will follow for Saturday's Class A championship game.

Thursday night inside the Charleston Coliseum and Civic Center, top-seeded Gilmer County (24-2) advanced to the girls title game for the first time since 2016 after pulling away from Webster County for a 61-44 victory.

The Titans' constant end-to-end pressure wore down Webster County (20-6) and took a 28-21 halftime lead and expanded the margin to as many as 20 points in the third quarter. Gilmer County recorded 23 steals as part of the Highlanders' 30 turnovers and pushed its two-game total to 58 steals -- which is within earshot of setting a new Class A record currently owned by Huntington St. Joe's 2013 standard of 74.

Championship Saturday for Gilmer County is set for 10 a.m.

"Our defense showed up again tonight," Gilmer coach Amy Chapman said. "Wearing teams down is kind of what we bank on when we pick up teams full court for 32 minutes. We may give up a few layups in our press, but we are willing to live with that as long as that is not consistent."

Emma Taylor led Gilmer with seven steals and was one of three Titans to score in double figures after finishing with 12 points.

Yet, the defensive gem of the game was the complete-game effort turned in by fellow senior Taylor McHenry, who received the assignment of guarding Webster County's all-everything point guard Sydney Baird.

Baird, who averages 25 points, was limited to nine points and committed 12 turnovers. While hounding Baird from the opening tip, McHenry didn't score in the first half. However, in the second half she was the bookend on an endless number of passes downcourt for the open lay-in and finished with a game-high 16 points.

"I just I had to stop (Sydney) - defense is my thing, so when my shots aren't falling I just go all out on defense," McHenry said. "Right now, I'm actually feeling pretty hyped. I feel good (physically)."

Gilmer County's 13-0 run late in the third quarter left Webster County trailing 47-27 with just less than a minute remaining in the third quarter. Baird, quieted to a mere two points in the first half, broke free on several possessions in the final minute and cut the deficit to 47-31 as the buzzer sounded.

Highlanders' Hannah Cutlip knocked down a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and Webster County remained within 13 at 52-39 when Baird was whistled for a charge and her fifth personal at the 4:15 mark of the fourth quarter.

With fellow post player Madison Hamrick already on the bench after fouling out with only nine minutes of playing time in the books, Gilmer County was in coast mode.

On the plus side for Baird, the junior turned in a stat line of seven assists, six blocks and six assists. Cutlip and Natalie Snyder each pitched in nine points.

"Gilmer County's pressure is tough, but I got to get used to it," said Baird, who was the only non-senior in the starting lineup for either side. "I'll see it next year, too. It is hard because it is mentally draining."

Malaysia Morgan added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Titans, who meet a second-seeded Cameron team they defeated 76-43 in their third game of the regular season.

"We faced Cameron early, but they have a ton of games under their belt and have gotten a lot better," Chapman said. "And yes, absolutely, we will follow the same formula. We are not going to change up what we do."

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