Ish’s spark
- Updated: February 12, 2025
After missing majority of the first half with foul trouble, Bethel delivers dunk that launches game-ending run as Piedmont reaches regional final.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Piedmont’s boys missed Ishmael Bethel’s spark in the first half of their Class 3A Northeast Regional semifinal with Geraldine on Wednesday.
His spark came back emphatically in the second half.
Bethel’s drive and dunk sparked the key run as Piedmont took off and left Geraldine on the way to a 54-41 Victory in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
The Bulldogs (19-8) avenged a loss to Geraldine in last year’s regional semifinals and punched their ticket to Tuesday’s 10:45 a.m. regional final against the Glencoe-Fyffe winner.
Piedmont and Glencoe are Class 3A, Area 12 rivals.
“We’ve got one more,” Piedmont coach Matt Glover said. “We’re either going to see a Fyffe team that we’re not that familiar with or see a Glencoe team for the fourth time.
“We’re here, so we’re just glad to play either one.”
Bethel played just seven minutes of the first half against Geraldine (21-9) because he picked up his second foul. He rejoined the action in the third quarter, and his dunk at 5:40 of the fourth put Piedmont up 39-38.
“Honestly, I saw the lane open, and I just did what I do,” Bethel said.
Bethel’s dunk also started a 17-3 run to end the game. Taylon Swain and Colton Proctor followed Bethel’s dunk with consecutive 3-pointers.
Bethel wound up tying Proctor for the team lead with 13 points, and Rollie Pinto added 10.
“We’ve seen it all year,” Glover said. “It’s a good thing. We know when he gets going, we’re pretty hard to stop.
“They were denying Rollie a lot, and it got Ish and Colton some open looks, so he was able to get to the goal. Once he gets to the goal, he usually finishes with a slam, so it gets us going on the defensive side, also.”
Just as important as Bethel’s dunk was his defense on Geraldine’s Redick Smith. Bethel held Smith to 4-for-10 shooting and 11 points.
“Twenty-two (Smith) is the coach’s son, and he’s been their leader all year,” Glover said. “This guy (Bethel), offensively, I’m not sure how much he had, and I really don’t care. Defensively, he shut down No. 22, and that was the game plan.”
Piedmont also got big minutes from senior post Noah Farmer when Bethel sat out with foul troubles. Farmer scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in his eight minutes.
“He played eight minutes of fantastic basketball,” Glover said. “He knew the assignment. He knew the goal. He knew the game plan. I really believe Noah Farmer was a big part of us winning that game.”
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