Boys basketball beats Jesse Bethel, Windsor next
Piedmont High School’s boys basketball team defeated Jesse Bethel 78-69 on February 22 at Binks Gymnasium in the second round of the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs.
The top-seeded Highlanders advanced to the semifinals and will host No. 12 Windsor on February 26 at 7 p.m.
The Jaguars started off well, taking leads of 18-12 and 24-18 in the first quarter.
“We played I thought our best overall game all year long against an athletic and big team,” Piedmont coach Ben Spencer said. “At no point did we feel scared or nervous.”
Jesse Bethel employed a full-court press the entire game. Spencer said the Highlanders had just six turnovers and handled the pressure the best they have all season.
Piedmont’s Lucian Fang Ring peers over the arm of Jesse Bethel’s Demar Butcher (2) while passing the ball during the Highlanders NCS Division 4 playoff victory. 
Cash Panico shows off his shooting form during Piedmont’s 78-69 win over visiting Jesse Bethel on February 22. 
Piedmont’s P.J. Brayer licks his chops while on offense. The Highlanders came back from an early deficit to defeat Jesse Bethel, 78-69. 
Jesse Bethel’s Demar Butcher (2) dribbles away from Piedmont’s (white, L-R) Lucian Fang Ring, Ravi Silverberg and P.J. Brayer. 
Dillon Casey goes up for a shot in the first half of Piedmont’s NCS Division 4 playoff win over Jesse Bethel. The Highlanders advanced to the semifinals.
Lucian Fang Ring answered both six-point leads with a 3-pointer to keep the Jaguars in sight. Fang Ring had 12 points in the first quarter. He and Ravi Silverberg each scored 15 in the first half as Dillon Casey got into foul trouble.
Spencer said the team’s defense after allowing 26 points in the first quarter was strong.
“In the first half we didn’t have any issues in scoring, it was stopping them from scoring,” Spencer said. “We gave up 26 in the first quarter. They were playing downhill. In the second third and fourth quarter we did a better job on defense.”
Piedmont led 43-39 at halftime and 55-51 after three. Casey came on in the fourth quarter as the Highlanders extended the lead, scoring 10 of his 25 points. Demar Butcher scored 11 in the quarter for Jesse Bethel including two 3-point bombs. He finished with 25. Redgley Goff scored 10 in the first quarter for the Jaguars but the Piedmont defense held him to four the rest of the way. D’Aarion Brown had 15 points.
Silverberg finished with 19 and Fang Ring finished with 17.