Lady Cougars Add More Wins

As the final stretch of the 2024-25 seasons comes into view, the Piedmont Academy varsity girls basketball team continues to find plenty of success on the court.

The Lady Cougars (18-3 overall, 6-0 in region) swept a three-pack of games against Macon opponents to remain perfect in region play. Piedmont held off a gritty First Presbyterian team Monday 60-55 on the road with a late comeback.

Over the weekend, the Lady Cougars defeated Mount de Sales 71-38 Saturday in Macon and Tattnall Square Academy 70-48 at home on Friday.

“We had a really good weekend,” Coach Michael Wilson said. “We came out Friday and Saturday and handled business but the most impressive aspect is we played as well as we did and we were not able to practice after Monday. I was concerned with us being such an outside shooting team that we might have a little rust to knock off but that turned out not to be the case.”

Wilson noted Mount de Sales is a talented young team.

“We saw first hand for a little more than a quarter of the game of what their future may be but ultimately we were able to make some adjustments and get things rolling,” the coach said. “I thought we moved the basketball the best we have all year over the weekend. Marissa had a great weekend. When she plays like she is everybody gets a little bit better because of the attention she garners. She’s playing confidently and under control.

In Monday’s win at FPD, Holder scored a game-high 33 points including three 3-pointers. The senior was also 12-of-13 from the foul line.

Kylee Keck added 12 points while Teagan Hinson, Sarah Ellen Stroud and Peyton Whitfield each scored four points.

FPD led 19-14 after the first quarter with the teams tied at 31 at halftime. The Lady Cougars held a slim 47-43 lead after the third quarter.

After a close first quarter against Mount de Sales on Saturday, the Piedmont girls used strong second, third and fourth quarters to secure the win.

Holder scored 37 points with 17 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals. Keck added 16 points with six rebounds, five steals, four blocks and two assists.

Stroud, a freshman, had 16 points with 11 assists, six rebounds and two steals.

In Friday’s 22-point win against Tattnall, Holder once again surpassed 30 points with a 33-point performance along with 21 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block.

Stroud added 17 points with five assists, three steals and two boards while Keck had 12 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and one block.

“Kylee and Sarah Ellen were also both really good in our recent games,” Wilson said. “When those three are on the same page and the basketball is moving we are a big problem for other teams. We need to remember that recipe and stick to it. We need to make sure we remember how we score and not just that we score.”

The coach said he knew FPD would provide a tough test.

I”‘ve been preaching to the girls all year when we are going on the road that things won’t go our way at all the time but we have to maintain composure and overcome that,” Wilson said. “That game checked all the boxes and added to that we were down 54-53 with 1:50 left and Kylee makes a huge three for us and Marissa has four free throws in the last 10 seconds to get the win. “It was huge. We were challenged and we responded. It wasn’t pretty at all, we didn’t shoot well, FPD played really good and aggressive defense but in the end we did enough to win and stay undefeated in region play.”

The Lady Cougars will travel to Stratford Academy in Macon Friday for a 6 p.m. game before hosting Windsor Academy Monday and John Milledge Academy Tuesday. The regular season concludes Friday, Feb. 7, at home against FPD.

“We also know Friday night will be a very, very tough game,” Wilson said. “It will be a hostile environment but we can clinch top seed for the region tournament with a win. Stratford didn’t like losing here and I’m sure they will be ready and focused to vindicate themselves at home. We have to play together and win one possession at a time.”

His team’s record to date is something that Wilson said should impress everyone.

“I think it speaks volumes for this team that we are undefeated in a region dominated by AAAA teams and currently atop MaxPreps’ AAA poll,” the coach said. “We are traditionally a AA school and I’m not sure how appreciated we are in Macon but it’s fun competing with them and so far winning, but we know nothing is guaranteed. They are all so talented and well coached that anything can happen and probably will. We just want to go down and represent Piedmont the best we can and handle our business. The girls have been in hostile environments before, they’ve succeeded in them and ultimately I trust they will show up and give it their all.”