The Piedmont High School girls basketball team beat the Alameda High School Hornets 76-55 on Jan. 22 at Binks Gymnasium. The Highlanders are now 12-3 on the season, 2-0 in West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division play while the Hornets fell to 13-6, 1-2.
Saniyah Johnson and Jenelle Solis missed the game due to injuries.
“Both of them are banged up. One’s foot, and one got hit pretty hard,” Piedmont coach Bryan Gardere said. “I don’t know if it’s been diagnosed as a concussion, but both just need (time). Hopefully it’s sooner than later, but this also throws people into the fire, and (players) got to play new roles and different roles and bigger minutes, you gotta step up.”
Piedmont utilized Andrea Martin to start the game strong by winning the tipoff. She scored 10 points for Piedmont in the first quarter, giving the Highlanders a 24-10 lead at the end of the quarter.
“I thought they did a good job today. I thought they started strong, and I thought that part was important,” Gardere said. “It’s always gonna be a dogfight, but when you come in on time, and you’re there ready to play, it’s gonna go (pretty good).”
Piedmont kept their lead for the second quarter, holding a 43-25 lead at halftime. “It felt really great, it was really exciting, and knowing that some of our players weren’t here, just stepping up, I put in more work than I’d done in other games,” Martin said.
Alameda tried to find their footing in the third quarter, scoring eight points in three minutes. The Hornets continued to score, but could not keep up. Martin scored multiple 3-pointers, along with Taylor White and Savannah Dennig scoring throughout. The Highlanders led at the end, 62-46.
“I think I did a good job taking it to the basket,” Dennig said. “I’m proud of myself how I rebounded a lot, more than I usually do, and that’s something I’m working on, as well as not forgetting to crash on offense and defense.”
The fourth quarter was no different. Martin, White, Dennig, and Alex Ba all contributed. “Even though we had some bad plays, we came to each other, stayed together, and lifted each other up,” Martin said.
Desiree Shoblo and Jennalyn Apodaca led Alameda with 14 points and 11, respectively.
The Highlanders next game is at Castro Valley on Jan. 27. They will host Marin Catholic in a
nonleague game on Jan. 31.