Lady Cougars Return Plenty of Basketball Talent for New Season

Piedmont Academy’s varsity girls basketball team is primed for a successful season with almost its entire roster from a year ago returning.

In addition, the team has gained some new talent as well. It gives coach Michael Wilson plenty of reason for optimism.

“We have some lofty goals for this season and their focus on our goals is apparent,” the coach said. “They understand what we need to do to get further than we have the last couple of years and have accepted it. It’s important we don’t settle for what we’ve done so far. We know what it takes to make the quarterfinals, but nobody on the team wants to end our season the same way as we have the last two years. These girls want their legacy to be the first basketball team at Piedmont to win back-to-back region titles and to go to the Final Four. It’s not an easy goal but these girls have accomplished so much I wouldn’t bet against them.”

The Lady Cougars have not lost at home since December of 2018.

“This group has accomplished so much as a group,” Wilson said. “We won region, have had three straight winning seasons, beaten schools we haven’t beaten in more than a decade and won 21 of our last 23 home games.”

One goal is to continue the home winning streak and another is to capture another region championship.

Returning seniors include Sydney Stroud, Haley Ann Frank and Jayden Young with Mallory Kelly, Hannah Tyler and Maddie Waddleton back for their junior campaigns. Returning sophomores are Haiden Crews and Dakota Floyd. Bailey Mobley returns as a freshman after being on the varsity as an eighth grader.

“With all that is going around and with all the uncertainty we face it’s important we practice each day with a purpose,” Wilson said. “When the games start we need to play each game like it’s the last one of the season because, unfortunately, with all that’s happening it might very well be. I think last March taught us a lot about not taking anything for granted. We have a core of girls that have been together several years and they’ve worked hard, improved and gotten to the point where we can speak of playing in to the last week of basketball and we want to have that opportunity.”

The Lady Cougars coach stresses defense as a major key to success on the court.

“We are going to play fast this year and that starts on our defensive side,” Wilson said. “Haley Ann, Sydney and Hannah are so fast they create chaos and turnovers and get in transition and beat folks with easy baskets. Our goal is to wear down our opponents with our speed and depth. We are very lucky to have the skill sets we have and as a coach you’ve got to use what you have. We have a very good supporting cast, we can play nine or 10 in any game and we need to make sure everyone plays together and hard while they are on the court.”

The roster has plenty of talent to make a postseason run.

I do not see many teams with more athleticism and speed than we will have and we have got to keep using it,” Wilson said. “We will force our tempo through trapping and being aggressive by challenging all passes. It’s our recipe for success, it’s a simple one that is created and executed through the effort of everyone on the court. You can look at our games the last few years and tell what games everyone was on the same page and everyone wasn’t. We don’t necessarily win all the games we are giving great effort but teams very rarely score over 50 points on us when we have our heads in the right frame entering a game.”

On the other end of the court, the Lady Cougars are concentrating on improving its percentage from the field.

We have worked really hard on seeing the court betting in our half court sets,” said Wilson. “I think with our speed we will see a lot of zone defenses, at least up until the postseason, and with that in mind we have emphasized shooting since we began summer practices. As a team, we are shooting the basketball as well as any team I have had at Piedmont. All the returners are shooting the best they’ve shot and we are also helped by the addition of some newcomers.”

Wilson broke down what each team member brings to the table for 2020-21.

•Sydney Stroud: “Sydney is tenacious. She fights and scraps every trip down the court. Sometimes, it may be too much fighting and scrapping but it’s easier to rein that in as opposed to creating that in a player. Her personality makes her an ideal point guard for me. I don’t think we play the way we play without her on the team. She holds everyone accountable including me.”

•Jayden Young: “Jayden is so valuable to us. She has learned her role over the years and she has improved in all aspects. She rebounds well, she plays good defense. Her shooting has improved as much as anyone. She was our second leading rebounder last year and is far from our second tallest player on the court. She is by far our best player and creating jump balls when the other team gets a rebound.”

•Haley Ann Frank: “Haley Ann is in a league of her own. She runs the court as well as anyone you will see play basketball. She anticipates so well–when you watch her eyes and feet on defense they never stop. Her energy and grit spill over for us to the rest of the team. She’s what makes our defense go.”

•Hannah Tyler: “Hannah is our energy shot. She has matured so much the last couple of years and I am proud of her improvement. When she hits the court the tempo of the game increases tenfold. Her defense is excellent and her offense is catching up to it. She has put in a lot of work since last season for us and she wants to always be on the court and I love that about her.”

•Marissa Holder: “Marissa joining us this year is a huge addition. Even though she’s only an 8th grader, she is as good of a shooter as anyone I’ve coached. She works very hard on her game and I think a lot of people are going to be very impressed with her on the court. She makes everyone better and I know we will have some 8th grade moments but she will take pressure off of everyone else on the court. When she is open, she is almost automatic from the perimeter.”

•Teagan Satterfield: “Teagan will also be a help to us this year. She has the ability to make the three as consistent as anyone we’ve had in the past and defensively she plays the game a lot like Haley Ann. She’s young but she is going to help us.”

•Maddie Waddleton: “She has worked hard and will continue to see the majority of the minutes. Maddie passes the ball well and gets in to position for rebounds fairly well. Playing the post is about out working your counter-part every possession of the game and often times each pass of every possession. It isn’t the most glamourous position on the court but it’s the most important.”

•Haiden Crews and Dakota Floyd: “Both keep improving. They have a lot of potential and both bring different skills to the court. Haiden has tremendous potential. She has great length and an ability to block shots that many don’t have. Dakota is so strong and athletic. She can run and jump with anyone. These two just need to take the same confidence from practice to the game. They are young but they can definitely help us be a better team.”

The Lady Cougars begin the new season Tuesday at home against New Creation Christian Academy. The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m