Piedmont Teams Split With Gatewood
The latest chapter in a long rivalry was written for Piedmont Academy and Gatewood last Friday.
Piedmont’s varsity basketball teams hosted their rivals from Eatonton with the Lady Cougars winning 42-31 and the boys falling 67-44.
Marissa Holder had another monster performance for the Lady Cougars with 16 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block. Kylee Keck added 15 points, four rebounds and a steal.
Sarah Ellen Stroud finished with five points, four assists, and two rebounds.
The game was competitive throughout with Piedmont leading 9-2 after the first quarter. The Lady Gators used an 11-5 second quarter to stay close. The Lady Cougars won the third (12-6) and fourth quarters (16-12).
“I think the Gatewood game last Friday was really good for us,” said Coach Michael Wilson. “We were missing Teagan Hinson, Sarah Ellen was in foul trouble and we were in a very hostile environment and really stayed composed and fought and came out on top. That’s never an easy place to go into and play. They have great crowd support for their team and are vocal. We were able to block all the noise out in the second half and play good basketball and win. That’s the mindset we have to have moving forward. We aren’t always going to be at our best but the grit these girls have had the last several years needs to be used.”
It was the 10th consecutive win for the Lady Cougars against Gatewood.
“The seniors have never lost to Gatewood and I’m not sure if that’s ever happened here at Piedmont but if so it’s been a long, long time,” Wilson said.
Taylor Jenkins added six points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal.
“The first seven games have been positive on many levels,” said Wilson. “I think we are playing pretty good basketball but we definitely have been able to see where we need to improve and are working on that. Like every season, we are going to try and play our best basketball from mid-January to the end. We haven’t been able to put together four good quarters yet but have played very well in the second and third quarters of most games. We’ve struggled starting games this season and that has been something we’ve looked at and talked about.”
The Lady Cougars (6-1) will play Central Fellowship (9-0) on Friday at 1 p.m. It will give the Piedmont girls a chance at defeating the lone team that has given them a loss this season. The game is part of a holiday event hosted by John Milledge Academy.
“Central Fellowship is one of the top five teams in the GIAA regardless of class,” Wilson said. “I believe we are too. It should be a really good game but it’s going to be a challenge for us. They’ve got another new player since the last time we’ve played them and are a big and fast team who shoots it well and defends very well and aggressively. We must value the ball on offense and not turn it over. Rebounding will also be a key. We have to limit them to one look on offense and make them work on defense.”
Piedmont’s boys were led by Chase Taylor against Gatewood who scored a team high 14 points. Camden Moss finished with 10 points and Corbett Crews added nine.
Kolby Pounds, Ethan Barman and Hunter Thomson each scored three points and Barrett Downing scored two.
The Cougars will play First Preparatory Christian Academy Friday at 2:30 p.m. at JMA.
