Area split
- Updated: January 2, 2025
Defense propels Piedmont boys to area victory over Ohatchee, and big fourth quarter key as Ohatchee girls rally past Piedmont.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
OHATCHEE — Some teams play zone defense to deny the lane. Some teams don’t have to.
Piedmont’s boys count on long arms and quick feet, and it was enough to handle their business in a 63-45 victory over Class 3A, Area 12 opponent Ohatchee on Thursday.
The Bulldogs held the Indians to eight two-point field goals compared to 19 of their own, including three Ishmael Bethel dunks.
Rollie Pinto led Piedmont with 17 points, Bethel added 15 and Colton Proctor 12 as the Bulldogs upped to 9-2 overall, 1-1 area.
“It was a big area win,” Pinto said. “We were 0-1 area. I think we jumped back in it, and I think we’ve come a long way since the start of the season.”
Piedmont’s area loss came against Westbrook Christian. A team known for late and slow starts in basketball because many of its players are also part of deep-run football teams finds its foundation in defense.
It showed up Thursday night.
“Defensively, we’re long,” Piedmont coach Matt Glover said. “We’re very athletic on the defensive side.
“The key was to watch 12 (Alston Carroll), who is a shooter, and then stop everybody else from driving in the lane. Three and four (Brayden Collins and Jayden Heard) for them like to get to the goal and score.”
The Indians (11-4, 0-3) rarely found uncontested shots inside the 3-point line. They got almost as many points on free throws, hitting 14 of 19, as they did on field goals.
Carroll and Colby Hester, both guards, led the Indians with 13 points apiece. Each hit a team-high two 3-pointers.
Up 15-14 after one quarter, Piedmont outscored Ohatchee 17-8 in the second to gain separation. The Bulldogs also had a 21-12 edge in the fourth.
“I think we played a good second and fourth,” Glover said. “It was getting out in transition. We were able to score when we got out in transition. We got a couple of stops in a row that led to transition.”
Girls
OHATCHEE 46, PIEDMONT 33: Greenlee Orman led Ohatchee with 12 points, and the Indians (9-5, 1-2) got nine points apiece from Tabi Davidson and Emily Riddle.
Down 31-26 after three quarters, Ohatchee outscored Piedmont 20-2 in the fourth, holding the Bulldogs to two Amiyah Thomas free throws.
“We just figured out how to put more pressure on them on defense,” Davidson said. “When we were pressuring them in the front, we figured out how to run around in our zone and get them to where they couldn’t get up shots good.”
Cayla Brothers led Piedmont (6-7, 1-1) with 12 points.
“They were up nine on us in the third quarter, and the girls did a really good job of staying close and sticking to the plan and not getting greedy,” Ohatchee coach Aaron Jackson said. “When things didn’t go their way, they stayed poised, especially Tabi.”
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