Piedmont Basketball Teams Post Wins
The Piedmont Academy boys basketball team has raced out to a 3-0 start under new coach Josh Daher.
The Cougars defeated John Hancock 37-35 Tuesday night in a home contest. Bobby Mitchell scored a game-high 15 points while Jakey Dunagan added 11 for Piedmont.
“I am really happy that this team can find a way to win after trailing for three and a half quarters,” Daher said. “On the other hand, I’m disappointed we got out hustled. One thing we have to remember is that we have only had four practices. We have time to get better and we have a group willing to get better. I am excited about what this team can become.”
Dylan Collins added six points Tuesday night while Justin Wilson finished with three and Seth Harvey added two.
The Piedmont Lady Cougars improved to 2-1 Tuesday with a 47-17 win against John Hancock. Hailey Burnham scored a game-high 21 points followed by Rachel Maletz with seven and Carley Cain with six.
“We lacked some emotion early but picked it up as the game went on,” said Lady Cougar coach Wes Tanner. “We talk all the time about getting better each day and that is something we have got to continue to do as the season goes on is to continue to improve.”
Kacy Swart and Heather Tyler added four points each Tuesday night while Lanie King finished with two and Lucy Strickland added a free throw.
Prior to Tuesday, the Piedmont boys defeated Nathanael Greene in overtime 39-37 Friday. The game was tied at 35 after the regulation.
Dunagan and Mitchell paced the Cougars with 13 points each while Peter Lawson finished with six. Wilson added four points while Alex Hall scored two and Collins added a free throw.
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“What a game,” Daher said. “ We didn’t take care of the basketball, we didn’t rebound and we didn’t make any shots. The team showed heart and a will to win. That is something I like to see early in the season since those are characteristics of a team you can’t coach. I see a lot of potential in this team if we get better at doing the little things right.”
Piedmont trailed 27-20 after the third quarter but outscored the Patriots15-8 in the fourth to force overtime.
The Lady Cougars earned their first win of the season at home Friday in a 51-10 victory against Nathanael Greene. Maletz scored a game-high 18 points while Burnham added 10 and Tyler finished with eight. Any Anuszczyk added four points.
King, Savannah McGinnis, Anna Jones, Jordanna Pope and Cain all scored two points while Kacy Swart added a free throw.
“We played great defensively and seemed to be a bit more settled than we were the first night out,” Tanner said.
The Lady Cougars took control of the game early building a commanding 17-1 lead after the first quarter.
The Piedmont teams will be on the road for the first time this season when they travel to Westminster Christian in Watkinsville Friday at 6 p.m. The teams will then travel to Sparta Monday to face John Hancock at 5 p.m.