Cougar Varsity Boys Fall On Road

Three players scoring in double figures was not enough for the Piedmont Academy varsity boys basketball team last Friday on the road against Gatewood.

The Cougars dropped a 77-53 contest despite 16 points from Tate Marks. Ryan Holder added 13 points while Caleb Coffey added 11.

“We started the game playing with high intensity,” coach Will Johnson said. “We jumped out to an 8-0 lead and they called time out. From that point everything changed.”

Piedmont’s coach said he was glad the holiday break was over so his team could get on a normal schedule.

“We started the season playing very good basketball,” Johnson said. “However, we have only had nine days of practice as a team. We went back to work on Sunday.”

The coach said he was disappointed in his team’s last two games against Gatewood and John Milledge.

“We had our worst defensive game of the season against Gatewood,” Johnson said. “It was really the worst defense we have played since I have been here. We are reaching instead of stepping in to take a charge. We are also not boxing out. Maybe in some way it will help us to be humbled like this.”

After such a strong start to the season Johnson said he team thought it could just show up and be successful.

“This is an early wake up call for us,” he said. “It happened at the right time. We can regroup now and move forward.

Piedmont (3-3 overall) has a busy stretch in the next six days with four games. The Cougars will host Young Americans Thursday and LaGrange Academy Friday. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

The varsity boys travel to Briarwood Academy on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest before returning home Tuesday against St. George’s at 7:30 p.m.

Johnson said if his team can rebound and be successful during this stretch it would help put the previous two games in the rear-view mirror.