Highlanders’ season ends in CIF playoffs
The Piedmont High School boys basketball team saw its season come to a close on March 4 when it lost at Natomas-Sacramento, 84-71 in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation Division 4 tournament.
Eighth-seeded Natomas advanced to the second round, where it will face No. 1 seed Priory-Portola Valley.
The Highlanders finished their season 15-16. Coach Ben Spencer said he was proud of his team, which was in almost all of its games. He also said his undersized squad struggled rebounding against the Nighthawks (25-8).
“I think we just lost to a better team,” Spencer said. “We weren’t big enough. Kind of a microcosm of the season.
“I’m proud of them. The whole year they battled. I can only think of one game where we didn’t compete. We were in every single game except for one at home to Acalanes. And (against Bishop) O’dowd in second half.”
Dillon Casey led Piedmont with 24 points. Ravi Silverberg had 18 and P.J. Brayer had 12.
Sophomore Alfred Wilkins scored 27 to lead the Nighthawks. Sophomore Aeron Wallace had 23 and Manno Jenkins scored 17.
The Highlanders got off to a good start, taking a 7-2 lead early. However, by the end of the first quarter, Natomas had taken a 21-15 lead at the end of the period.
“(We were) outrebounded 8-2 in the first four minutes,” Spencer said. “I think their first nine points were all second-chance points. We shot the ball really well in that first quarter, just couldn’t get a rebound.”
Spencer said in the second quarter, the rebounding was better but his team had several turnovers. In the third quarter, the Nighthawks hit most of their shots. By the end of three, Natomas led, 61-45. The Nighthawks extended the lead to 20 early in the fourth quarter.
But then, as has been their habit, the Highlanders started cutting into the lead. They cut to eight several times but never closer.
“We never got over that eight-point hump,” Spencer said.
The coach said he is optimistic about next year with nine players coming back plus expected promotions from the freshmen and junior varsity teams. The only key senior graduating is Silverberg.
“My hope is that next year is a lot deeper,” said Spencer, who was playing a six-man rotation.