Cougars Varsity Hoops Earn First Wins
Piedmont Academy’s varsity boys basketball team tipped off the new campaign last week facing Brandon Hall on the road.
The Cougars fell 67-55 in what coach Will Johnson described as a typical first game of the season.
“As a team you could tell it was our first game while Brandon Hall was playing their fifth,” Johnson said. “We had a slow start and did play well in the first half. We were sloppy and dug ourselves too deep of a hole.”
Piedmont found itself down 25-8 in the first half and had to find composure to climb back in the contest.
“It was like a punch in the face to start with,” Johnson said.
The Cougars trailed 43-19 at halftime but made some adjustments and settled down outscored Brandon Hall 13-2 in the third quarter.
“I am proud of the guys for not quitting,” Johnson said. “We understood the situation and kept fighting. We got as close as nine points but just ran out of time.”
Sam Wright had a strong start to the season with 18 points and 20 rebounds. Clay Jones added 12 points and Tate Marks scored 11.
“I am proud of the way we played in the second half,” Johnson said. “We will see them again this season. We have some things to work on but we will improve.”
A total of 20 turnovers must be decreased, the coach said. Piedmont was also just 3-of-20 from 3-point range.
Ryan Holder and Caleb Coffey both scored six points while Bradley Greenwood added two points.
Johnson said he believed his team would make improvement for the second game and that is exactly what happened as the Cougars defeated St. George last Friday on the road 63-50.
“I was happy with how we started the game,” the coach said. “We came out firing on all cylinders and led 35-13 at halftime.”
One aspect of the game which Johnson did not like was how the Cougars did not continue with the same intensity to start the second half.
“We came out after halftime and let our foot off the gas,” he said. “They made a run and while we still managed to win the game it should not have been that close.”
Wright finished with 19 points whiles Jones added 11 points and eight boards. Marks added nine points, six assists and four steals.
“Tate was one of our leading scorers last year but is working to fill other roles this season,” Johnson said. “He is continuing to play great defense and is helping us with assists so he has been an asset on both ends of the floor.”
Holder added 11 points and Coffey finished with seven points, six rebounds and three assists.
“Caleb was a starter last season but is our first player off the bench this year,” Johnson said. “He is really accepted his new role and is giving us valuable minutes.”
Piedmont’s coach said he likes how his team has had a balanced scoring attack.
Greenwood added six points in Friday’s victory.
The Cougars have three games this week, two of which are region. The non-region game is against John Milledge which the Piedmont boys have not defeated in several seasons. Johnson said he hopes that streak will end, especially for this year’s seniors.
The Piedmont Lady Cougars defeated Brandon Hall 54-27 last week for a region victory. Lucy Tuggle (14 points), Haliey Hooper (12 points) and Madison McCart (10 points) all finished in double figures. Syndey Stroud added eight points while Jayden Young scored four.
Mattie Johnston and Gracie Hunt both contributed two points in the win last week.
“I think the Brandon Hall game was the best game a girls’ team has played since I’ve been here,” Lady Cougars coach Michael Wilson said. “Sydney Stroud was tremendous in the game scoring nine points, getting eight steals, nine rebounds and handing out seven assists. However, her best contribution was how well see took care of the basketball. She ended the game with only one turnover. She played like a true point guard, she was mentally tough and she needs to continue that each game. If she does, we will be successful.”
The win was a team effort as the Lady Cougars received quality play from several team members.
“We have had great support from Hailey Hooper, Mattie Johnston, Gracie Hunt and Jayden Young in multiple games,” Wilson said. “As the season progresses I am confident they will find consistency in what they do well. Hailey has done a great job at scoring and rebounding. She is very athletic and when she gets it going offensively there are not many players in GISA who can stop her.”
Other players have also contributed early in the 2018-2019 season.
“Madison Johnson has really been a pleasant surprise,” her coach said. “She’s never played organized basketball and in the game at Brandon Hall she got seven rebounds. That’s really an area she can help us in and what I like best about her is she is willing to listen, learn, and work hard. She has a great work ethic.”
The Lady Cougars fell 41-23 to St. George last Friday despite 12 points by McCart and seven from Young.
“Against St. George’s we turned the ball over way too much and never settled down and got in our offense,” Wilson said. “They pressured us full court and we let it rattle us. That’s on me. I did not do a good job in preparing us to be successful. I told the girls after the game, we are going to get better and that goes from me all the way down the roster. We have a chance to have a great season and it will happen if we are not satisfied and continue to improve and I’m confident we will.”
At 1-2 (1-1 in region) the Lady Cougars have a busy stretch of games this week with three contests in three days.
“I’m not too discouraged by the start of the season,” Wilson said. “We have had to deal with some things already that we haven’t had to deal with in the past in terms of injuries and starters missing games but in the end I believe this will benefit us because we have had to play a lot of players who don’t have a lot of experience.”
Tuggle and McCart have also been standouts early in the season.
“Lucy and Madison have really played well,” their coach said. “They have scored in double digits in all the games they’ve played. They are extremely important to us and it’s difficult to make up for what they provided us when they are in foul trouble or unable to play. Madison is averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds through three games and Lucy is averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds. I’m excited to see their success and am confident in it continuing.”
Piedmont’s varsity basketball teams will host John Milledge in non-region games Thursday (today) before hosting LaGrange Academy Friday. Varsity contests begin at 6 p.m. each evening.
The teams will then play at Flint River Academy Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.