The Piedmont High School boys basketball team beat the Alameda Hornets 67-58 on Feb. 11 at Binks Gymnasium. It was senior night, with seniors who don’t get a lot of playing time getting more.
Alameda began with a fast-paced game, quickly taking a 7-0 lead. A 3-pointer from Johnny Lee followed by another 3-pointer by Nicholas Riordan allowed the Highlanders to find their footing.
“Not only did (Lee and Riordan) get in, but they contributed serious minutes,” fellow senior Dillon Casey said. “Both of them hit threes in the first quarter. I felt so good about that.”
Lee, Riordan, Casey, P.J. Brayer, and Beach Lorin’s shots allowed the Highlanders to blow past Alameda. Akash Bornstein was subbed in near the end of the quarter, and got multiple steals in the last two minutes. Piedmont finished the period with an 18-12 lead.
“The San Leandro game kinda played a role (in our success),” Brayer said. “We embraced all the pressure, and that has transitioned into the past few games, especially against Alameda,” Brayer said.
The second quarter was far slower, with the Highlanders keeping the lead. Bornstein, Casey, Lorin, Brayer, Lucian Fang-Ring, and Cash Panico kept their defense dialed, allowing the Hornets to only score five points in the quarter.
It was 30-17 at halftime.
“I feel like I played pretty solid,” Brayer said. “It was definitely a team win though. I missed some open shots I should have made, but I got it down defensively.”
The Highlanders stayed hot in the third quarter, but the Hornets crept back. Jack Omarra scored 12 points. Piedmont entered the fourth quarter with a 50-33 lead.
“Defensively, we really stepped our game up,” Casey said. “We had a lot of energy, we turned defense into offense, and played a good game.”
The Highlanders began to slip up in the fourth quarter. Multiple bad passes and turnovers from Piedmont allowed Alameda to gain traction. Scoring 25 points in the last quarter, the Hornets made it feel as though it was a tight game. However, Casey’s free throws allowed Piedmont to keep the lead and win the game 67-58.
“I had a pretty solid night. I got to the rack multiple times, finished and created opportunities for my other teammates,” Casey said.
Alameda’s Omarra was the leading scorer of the game, dropping 22 points for the Hornets. Casey was the runner up, scoring 20. “Dillon Casey is a dog,” Brayer said.
The Highlanders next game is against Alameda on Feb. 13, away.