Varsity Cougars Have Tough Weekend
It was a tough weekend for the Piedmont Academy varsity basketball teams.
Both the girls and boys were swept by LaGrange last Friday and then by Gatewood the following day.
The Lady Cougars fell to LaGrange 61-24. The LaGrange girls are considered one of the top teams in the state, Piedmont coach Chip Champion said.
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“We were just outmatched,” the coach said. “LaGrange has lost only once this season. They are really on a roll right now.”
Mandi Pulliam finished with 14 points for Piedmont while Heather Lewis added eight. The two finished with 22 of the Lady Cougars’ 24 points Friday.
The Lady Cougars fell to another one of the state’s top teams Saturday in a 50-26 setback to Gate-wood. Diana Hardy and Lewis both finished with eight points.
“We knew going into last weekend we would be playing two of the top teams in the state,” Champion said.
The Piedmont boys fell 82-61 to LaGrange last Friday despite 19 points by Taylor Marsh.
“We played well offensively, but not so well defensively,” Champion said. “We didn’t rebound well. LaGrange only has one loss in the region. We played them tough early but ran out of steam late.”
Ben Worthen and Andrew Fisher both finished with 14 points for Piedmont.
Champion said the Cougars gave one away in a 40-36 loss to Gatewood last Saturday. Piedmont led until final three minutes. Gatewood outscored the Cougars 14-4 in the fourth quarter.
Worthen finished as the leading scorer for Piedmont with 15 points while Lance Richardson added 10.
“We played well with the exception of the last few minutes,” Champion said. “I believe it may be a mental thing with Gatewood. We’ve lost so many times to them in the last few years that it plays on our mind.”
Champion said he believes the boys can bounce back, and appear set to make a push down the final part of the regular season.
Monday’s scheduled game against West Georgia Christian in LaGrange was postponed because of the weather. The game has been rescheduled for next Thursday.
The Piedmont teams will travel to Oak Mountain Friday at 6 p.m. before hosting Monroe Academy Tuesday at 6 p.m.