Lady Cougars Finish as Region Runner-up

The Piedmont Academy Lady Cougars made a strong run through the Region 4-AA basketball tournament.

Piedmont finished as region runner-up after falling to Arlington 53-42 in the championship game Friday. The Lady Cougars were set to begin play in the GISA Class AA state tournament Wednesday against Frederica Academy at Middle Georgia College in Cochran.

In the region title game, played in Woodbury, Lanie King scored 18 points to lead Piedmont while Hailey Burnham finished with 10. Anna Jones added nine points while Heather Tyler scored five.

The game was tied 10-10 after the first quarter with Arlington holding a 22-18 at halftime. The Lady Cougars went on a 17-12 run in the third quarter to regain a 35-34 advantage.

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“The girls played a great tournament,” said Piedmont coach Josh Daher. “They did a bunch of little things right. We just came up a little short in the championship game. However, I am very proud of them. They played extremely hard and showed guts. They showed all the characteristics of being a champion.”

Piedmont advanced to the region title game by defeating host Flint River 45-24 on Feb. 14. Tyler led the team with 16 points while King finished with 15 and Jones scored 11. Kacy Swart added two points and Haley Tyler scored a free throw.

The Lady Cougars were scheduled to face Frederica Academy Wednesday in an opening round state tournament game at Middle Georgia College. Piedmont entered state at 15-12 overall.

“I hope our play in the region tournament will help give us a boost going into state,” Daher said Sunday.

“It was great to see the girls step up and play so well. Frederica comes from a good region. They are a tough team. We will have to play one of our better games to beat them.”

For updated results log onto www.themonticellonews.com, The Monticello News website for the outcome of the game as it was played after the deadline for this edition.