Piedmont secured a convincing 66-45 victory over Cardinal Newman in the NCS Open Division quarterfinals, showcasing their dominance, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Highlanders, ranked third, displayed strategic prowess at their home court in the Oakland Hills, methodically building their lead before unleashing a devastating final stretch.
After three quarters of tightly contested play, with Piedmont holding a narrow 43-41 lead, the game shifted dramatically. The Highlanders executed a remarkable 19-0 run, effectively shutting down Newman and extending their advantage to 62-41. The Cardinals could only muster four points in the final period, failing to score until the last three minutes of the game.
Piedmont”s transition game was a crucial element of their strategy, and coach Bryan Gardere emphasized the importance of pushing the pace. “It is definitely part of who we are, who we like to be,” he said regarding his team”s fast-break approach. “We knew we were gonna take quick shots. It wasn”t a mystery thing. We”re trying to push it.”
The return of point guard Jenelle Solis, who had been sidelined with a sprained foot for most of the season, fueled Piedmont”s offensive surge. Solis effectively facilitated the Highlanders” attack, distributing the ball to teammates such as Andrea Martin, Taylor White, Savannah Dennig, and Alexa Ba, all of whom excelled in transition opportunities.
With this win, Piedmont (21-3) now looks ahead to face second-seeded Carondelet (23-5) in the NCS semifinals on Wednesday in Concord. Although the Highlanders have secured a spot in the CIF NorCal playoffs, they are eager to capitalize on their current momentum and continue their postseason journey.
Leading the scoring for Piedmont was Madin with 18 points, followed closely by Ba with 16. Solis and Dennig each added nine points to the tally, while White contributed eight points.
