Piedmont High School’s girls basketball team improved to 8-0 to start the season with wins over Encinal and California. The Highlanders next headed to Southern California for a tournament running Dec. 27-30.
On Dec. 21, Piedmont beat visiting Encinal, 75-38. Natalia Martinez led the Highlanders with 33 points. She also had eight rebounds and six assists. Lindsey Wirgler had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists. Shakila Zuberi had 12 points and five rebounds. Samantha Smith had nine points and six rebounds and Kat Melian had eight points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Piedmont blitzed the Jets from the beginning, taking a 20-0 lead after one quarter.
On Dec. 23, the Highlanders won 61-55 at California. Piedmont had to come from behind, using a 20-4 run in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory. Martinez scored 44 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Wirgler contributed 15 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Zuberi had six rebounds and Smith and Melian had four apiece.