Piedmont Stuns Gatewood, Clinches Ticket to State

The Piedmont Academy boys basketball team has been involved in several close games during the 2010-2011 season. The first two contests with Gatewood were not among them. On Wednesday night, however, the Cougars showed all that matters is what happens late in the season, primarily in the region tournament.

Piedmont stunned Gatewood 25-22 to advance in the Region 1-AA tournament in Macon and in the process punched its ticket for the upcoming Class AA state tournament. The Cougars are scheduled to play on in the region tournament tonight (Thursday) against Central Fellowship at 8:30 p.m.

Coach Josh Daher went to his past Wednesday night and used the four-corners offense that he helped George Walton Academy win two state titles during his time as a player. Piedmont used a slowed down, methodical approach as soon as it won the opening tip and in the process frustrated Gatewood, whose season ended at 19-6.

Bobby Mitchell led the Cougars with eight points while Alex Hall and Jakey Dunagan both added six. Davis Kimball finished with three and Peter Lawson scored two.

Piedmont led 8-2 after the first quarter and 14-10 at halftime. Even when the Cougars did not score in the third quarter and found themselves trailing 20-14, the players continued with the game plan and outscored the Gators 11-2 in the final eight minutes.

Making Wednesday’s second-round region tournament win even more amazing was the fact Gatewood had posted victories of 49-24 and 55-14 against Piedmont during the regular season.