Lady Cougars Win First State Title Ever

Piedmont Academy began fielding varsity girls basketball teams in the early 1970s.

More than five decades later, the 2022-23 team has now made program history with the first state championship.

Friday’s 82-65 win in the GIAA Class AA finals against Citizens Christian was the culmination of years of building for coach Michael Wilson. The Lady Cougars finished the 2022-23 season with a 22-9 record.

“We had some highs and some lows but in the end we came out on top as champions,” said team member Teagan Satterfield. “It was a long season. We had some injuries but that meant other players had to step up.”

Satterfield had to step in as the main basketball handler.

“There was a lot of pressure involved with taking on this role,” Satterfield said. “We played four games without Marissa. Even after she came back she was injured again. Everyone thought we were done but Marissa came back and still played while hurt. I am still in shock that we won for the first time. This is a major accomplishment and I am so grateful to be part of this amazing program with the most amazing teammates and coaches.”

Sattterfield’s Lady Cougar teammates echoed her comments.

“The championship means more than anything,” said team member Bailey Mobley who had some big moments on the court down the stretch. “We really came together and grew as a team. We had so many girls who contributed to this season and that is what it takes to win a championship.”

Senior Abby Arnold was one of several key pieces for the team.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be a part of the first girls basketball state championship team,” Arnold said. “We worked so hard this summer and this season and it paid off in the end. My teammates and coaches were amazing and I love and appreciate them all so much. Through the years, I’ve watched this group learn to play together as a team and I can’t wait to come back and watch them continue to achieve more goals.”

Along the way to the historic title, the first in the program’s history, Piedmont had to overcome an injury to its top player but depth was a factor on the team’s side as Wilson had a deep roster.

Citizens Christian (22-8) kept the game close for three quarters but in the end the Lady Cougars were just too strong and just kept scoring. The 82 points put on the board in the championship game was a season high.

The Lady Cougars trailed 11-8 after the first quarter and used a 22-17 run in the game’s second eight minutes for a slim 4-point halftime advantage.

The teams both had plenty of offense in the third quarter scoring 25 points each but the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. Piedmont outscored Citizens Christian 27-14 making some key free throws in the final minutes.

Haiden Crews, another one of the team’s seniors, capped her career in the best way possible.

“It was already an honor to be a part of the program but to be part of something so historic is incredible,” Crews said. “The team as a whole wanted this title and we have worked for it since we stepped into the gym in October for preseason practice. I am so proud of my teammates for always fighting for each other on and off the court. This season we all grew close, almost like sisters, and I believe that is what helped us win the championship.”

Sophomore Kylee Keck said taking the final step to a championship is something that was a result of hard work.

“We have improved each year and made it deeper in the tournament each season,” Keck said. “We worked hard to improve our skills and it has paid off. I can say as a player I understood the game more this season and how to execute my job on the team.”

In the championship game, sophomore Marissa Holder, already the program’s all-time leading scorer, paced offensive surge with 35 points.

Holder had to miss some games during the season due to injury but was in standout form Friday.

“Being the first girls basketball team have accomplished such a thing in school history is amazing,” Holder said. “I also love how we won state when not many people believed we could except for the players and coaches on our team.”

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Coach Wilson. “This has been our goal since day one. It was something that very few people thought would ever happen and it serves still as motivation for me. I’m a firm believer if you set the bar at a certain level children will work to meet it. I always told my first couple of teams that Rome wasn’t built in a day but it had a first day. That’s where we started eight years ago and because of what those girls did it creates a culture of work and just kept raising the bar each year and we finally met our goal. Now, we keep raising it.”

Players also credited Wilson and the coaching staff for guiding them to the championship.

“It all makes sense now why our coaches pushed us to our limit every day at practice,” Satterfield said. “They saw something in us and we proved them right. We stepped up and played as a team and everyone peaked at the right time when it mattered the most.”