Cougar Basketball Is Well Under Way
Piedmont Academy’s varsity basketball teams began Region 4-AA play last Friday with road wins against Thomas Jefferson Academy in Louisville.
The Lady Cougars earned a 31-30 victory while the Piedmont boys held on for a 67-62 win. Friday’s games followed non-region wins against Twiggs Academy the previous night as the Lady Cougars won 39-19 and the boys took a 71-0 victory.
“There is no other way to put it, the win against Thomas Jefferson was a big deal,” said Lady Cougars coach Michael Wilson. “To win a region game on the road is always a big deal but to do it on a half-court attempt at the buzzer is phenomenal. It’s just another example of how this team never stops fighting.”
In the final seconds, Lucy Tuggle pulled down a rebound on a missed free throw with four seconds left, took about four dribbles and then fired an attempt from half a step inside half court and drilled it.
The Lady Cougars had to compete without one of their best players for a good portion of the game as Madison McCart was called for two quick fouls in the first quarter and one early in the second quarter.
“To be able to compete on road with a three-year starter on the bench shows how far this group has come and how hard they compete,” Wilson said. “Deacon Robinson, Gracie Hunt and Jayden Young all filled in and gave us the minutes we had to have if we were going to win. To win in basketball you have to have players who understand their roles and execute them and they did that.”
In the win against Thomas Jefferson, Sydney Stroud and McCart both finished with eight points while Alexis Dodson scored six. Tuggle finished with five points while Haley Ann Frank scored four.
“Sydney Stroud played her best game at point guard and did a great job limiting turnovers and managing the game,” her coach said. “That continuation is a must for this team if we are to continue this success.
Along with Haley Ann Frank they created a lot of turnovers on defense.
When those two play defense like that we are tough to beat. I think more than anything else their defense is vital to our success. Haley’s relentless energy and her grabbing key rebounds and making free throws late in the game spurs this team forward. In all of our close games she has outworked the opponent late in games and hit key free throws. That intangible can not be discounted. It’s contagious.”
The exciting down-to-the-wire win was the result of several players.
“I thought Alexis played the best game I’ve seen her play in the four years she’s been on varsity,” Wilson said. “She didn’t come off the floor, played several different positions for us and worked her tail off inside the paint out- rebounding their taller post players. She hustles on every possession of every game.”
In addition to the game-winning basket, Tuggle had a strong night defensively.
“Lucy didn’t have her best shooting night, but she played excellent defense and passed the basketball well and it all came together in the end when she fought for the rebound and took it,” Wilson said. “I am really happy for her as well. To watch her rehab her knee last year and to see her go through all the emotions one has when they have an injury like she did and then to see all her hard work be rewarded, that basket means so much more than winning a game. It goes to show that with hard work and resolve you can accomplish whatever you want.”
McCart, despite being in first half foul trouble, still played a role in the win for the Lady Cougars.
“Even though Madison had foul trouble in first half she came back in second half and showed a lot of maturity,” her coach said. “She played smart, didn’t pick up any fouls scored and rebounded for us and did what a team leader should do when they aren’t having things go their way. She stayed focused and positive and helped us to a region win.”
The previous evening saw the Lady Cougars get a 13-point game from McCart in the home win against Twiggs Academy. Robinson and Dodson both scored six points while Tuggle scored five. Frank finished with four points while Hunt scored three and Hannah Tyler added two.
“We are 6-1 and it’s been at least five years since the girls have won six games in a season so it’s something to celebrate but not something with which to be satisfied,” Wilson said. “We have bigger goals for the season and we will keep working each day to get better and reach them. But, winning three close games shows we have the grit to accomplish whatever they focus on. They always compete. They are a lot of fun to coach and watch.”
Piedmont’s varsity boys are now 4-3 overall and 1-0 in region play following last week’s wins.
The Cougars were led by a 20-point effort from Sam Wright against Twiggs Academy. Tate Marks added 19 points in the victory and Brock Greenwood finished with 13 points.
Also contributing were Ryan Holder (eight points), JT Webb (six points) and Talon Anglin (two points.) Dylan Coe added a free throw.
In the region opener against Thomas Jefferson, Marks led the Cougars with 16 points while Webb scored 14 and Wright finished with 13. Holder scored 11 points to give Piedmont four players in double figures.
Coe and Bradley Greenwood both scored five points while Brock Greenwood scored three points.
One key for the Piedmont boys has been to finish games strongly.
“One of the things we have talked about all year is to improve each quarter,” coach Will Johnson said.