Gilmer County’s Ava Dobbins get the ball on the block and goes up for a bucket against the defense of Cameron’s Kenzie Scott during Friday’s Class A state quarterfinal in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

CHARLESTON — The old adage in basketball is defense wins championships.

Gilmer County head coach Amy Chapman’s program put on a record-breaking performance here Friday evening in the single-A state semifinals as the Titans allowed just two made field goals on 46 attempts (4.3%) en route to a 48-16 blowout of Cameron.

The top-ranked Titans, who saw their defense set an all-class state tournament record for field goal percentage defense which was previously held by Huntington St. Joe back in 2016 when the Irish limited Richwood to 12.8% (6 of 47), improved to 22-4 and will take on No. 2 Tug Valley at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the state championship.

“I think our defense definitely showed up again tonight,” said coach Chapman, whose Titans led 25-2 after one and watched Cameron finally crack double digits with a pair of late foul shots in the third quarter from Maci Neely, who had team-highs of nine points, nine rebounds and four steals. “We forced Cameron out of their comfort zone and forced them to take some contested shots, and I thought we executed that very well.

“A lot of our offense is created through our defense so it was good to get some easy looks down the floor. We ran the floor well and made pretty good decisions with the basketball, and did a pretty good job of executing offensively with the plays and getting it inside.”

Gilmer County’s Kenley Hartshorn makes a move with the ball as Cameron's Devan Schrack (3) defends during Friday’s Class A state quarterfinal in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Cameron head coach Holly Pettit, who graduated four seniors off last year’s squad which became the first public school to three-peat in single-A after handing the Titans a 50-43 setback, finished the campaign at 18-4.

“To end on a loss is not fun, but these girls are going to be fine,” admitted coach Pettit, whose team got outscored 28-3 in the paint and 21-4 on points off turnovers. “We knew what we were getting into when we got the fourth seed. We know Gilmer is the buzzsaw this year.

“We don’t have anybody over 5-9. We knew that we were outsized and they are well coached, quick and they can all shoot. Unfortunately we didn’t compete as well as we wanted to and our shots weren’t falling. Nobody thought we’d make it to Charleston this year, let alone get a win.”

Ava Dobbins led the way for Gilmer County as the junior pivot went for game-highs of 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. Allie Ellyson finished with 15 points, a game-high five steals and shared game-high assists honors at three with teammates Lena Frymier and Malory Casteel.

“I’m really excited,” Ellyson said of having another chance to cut down the nets. “I’ve been waiting on this for so long. Ever since last March. I know we deserve to be here.

Gilmer County's Allie Ellyson throws up a shot while being fouled by Cameron's Addison Stern during Friday’s Class A state quarterfinal in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I’m really excited and I think the team vibes are really good. We’re just excited. We’ve worked so hard and we’re just happy to be there tomorrow.”

Freshman Titan Kenley Hartshorn finished with seven points, added 10 rebounds and joined Blair Dobbins with a blocked shot.

“It’s been really great. I’ve had fun with the team,” said Hartshorn.

For a period of time, it looked like the Dragons might set the state record for fewest points in a state tournament game, which is still held by South Harrison (15) against Charleston Catholic.

“We are just really scrappy on defense and very technical,” added coach Chapman, who got three points apiece from Frymier and Casteel while Laura Brannon and Blair Dobbins had a bucket each. “Defensively I thought we pressured the ball very well, forced them to their off-hand and I thought the next pass away people were out in the passing lane.

Gilmer County’s Lena Frymier elevates for a jumper as Cameron's Maci Neely defends during Friday’s Class A state quarterfinal in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We defended the screens well when they came up with a ball screen so we did a pretty good job with the help on that, and the defensive rotations I thought the bigs inside did a great job if it did get past the guards altering shots and being a rim protector.”

Ellyson actually scored all of her markers in the first half as the Titans shot 54.2% (13 of 24) and held a commanding 36-6 intermission advantage.

“Worked every day in practice and worked hard all year and this will be another opportunity,” said Ava Dobbins of trying to finish the season on top.

Blair Dobbins was joined in grabbing six boards by Frymier while Brannon and Casteel collected five caroms each.

Gilmer County, which forced five turnovers before the Dragons got off a shot and tallied the first nine points, advanced to the state title game for the third time in four years while Cameron was attempting to reach its fifth straight championship game.

Gilmer County head coach Amy Chapman, kneeling, looks on during Friday’s Class A state semifinal against Cameron in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Gilmer County's Laura Brannon nearly steals the ball away from Cameron's Macey Bertram during Friday’s Class A state quarterfinal in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)