Covenant Sweeps the Cougars
Piedmont Academy’s varsity basketball teams were back on the court Tuesday hosting Covenant Academy of Macon.
Both the Cougars and Lady Cougars were defeated as the Covenant girls took a 39-30 win and the Covenant boys left Monticello with a 60-49 victory.
In the girls contest, Amelia Dodson led Piedmont with 10 points and Madison McCart scored eight in a game where the Lady Cougars held a one-point lead after the third quarter.
Covenant, however, would outscore Piedmont 15-5 in the game’s final eight minutes.
Lucy Tuggle added six points for the Lady Cougars while Hailey Hooper, Matti Smith and Madison Burnham all scored two points.
For the boys, Mack Brady and Chandler Burrell both scored 14 points and Michael Edwards and Zach Wilson both finished with seven points but it was not enough to get a win. Piedmont trailed by five points at halftime and by 10 after the third quarter.
The varsity squads rebounded from a tough opening night to secure their first victories of the 2015-2016 season by sweeping visiting Nathanael Greene Friday to improve their overall records to 1-1 early in the new campaign. The varsity girls, behind a 15-point performance from Amelia Dodson, defeated the Lady Patriots 47-28.
The game was tied 8-8 after the first quarter, but the Lady Cougars had moved in front 23-15 by halftime. Dodson scored six of points in the second quarter.
The Piedmont girls had the game in hand by the completion of the third quarter with a 33-19 advantage.
Haley Tyler added nine points for the Lady Cougars while Madison Burnham and Lucy Tuggle both scored six points. Madison McCart scored four points with Hailey Hooper adding three. MaKennah Holifield and Matti Smith both finished with two points.
Other key stats in the win for the girls were six rebounds by McCart and five each for Dodson and Burnham. McCart and Dodson also had three blocks each. Tyler had five steals and Dodson finished the game with four. Tyler also had four assists.
Piedmont’s varsity boys recorded their first win of the Alan Richardson era with a convincing 67-38 win against Nathanael Greene. The Cougars were led by Mack Brady, who scored 15 points, and Chandler Burrell, who scored 12 points. Burrell has now surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Tanner Casey added 11 points Friday night while Michael Edwards also finished in double digits against Nathanael Greene with 10.
Piedmont never trailed after any quarter in the game, leading 13-7 after the first, 32-16 at halftime and 51-23 after the third. In addition to having four players in double figures, the Cougars benefited from four points from Talon Anglin and Jackson Waddleton and three points from Sam Younker, J.T. Webb and Sam Wright. Tate Marks added two points.
It was a tough season opener for both Piedmont teams last Thursday against visiting Gatewood. The Lady Cougars fell 58-13 while the boys took a 92-45 loss.
For the Lady Cougars, Holifield was the leading scorer with five points while Tuggle finished with four. Burnham scored two and Tyler and Hooper both added free throws. McCart had seven blocks.
Burrell scored a game-high 22 points in the boys game for Piedmont, but it was not enough to keep track with the Class AAA Gators. Younker added six points while Casey and Brady both finished with five points.
Webb added three points while Chris McClain scored two and Wyatt Galloway finished with one point.
Piedmont’s varsity basketball teams will return to the court hosting John Milledge on Friday, Dec. 11 and Oak Mountain on Saturday, Dec. 12. Varsity action begins Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.