Team sees season end in Stockton
The Piedmont High School girls basketball team saw its season come to an end on March 8, falling at St. Mary’s-Stockton 61-48 in the California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 Northern regional semifinals.
The ninth-seeded Highlanders finished the season at 24-6. The No. 4 Rams advanced to the regional final at No. 3 Carondelet on March 11.
“St. Mary’s is a very good program,” Piedmont coach Bryan Gardere said. “They did a really good job.”
Gardere noted that the Highlanders held St. Mary’s top scorer Evelini Smith to just one point. Smith, who also got in foul trouble, is a 6-foot-4 junior who is being recruited by the University of California among other top schools, is averaging 12 points per game. Piedmont’s defense was reminiscent of their opening round win over Oakland Tech when the Highlanders were able to shut down 6-3 junior Jhai Johnson.
However, this time, the opposition was able to hurt Piedmont from outside. The Rams made 12 3-pointers in the game including all six of their made field goals in the second quarter.
“Unfortunately we didn’t do a good job at the 3-point line,” Gardere said. “Between that and the turnovers, that was the difference in the game. Even when we got there, they still made some contested shots. We did a solid job but we were just a step away or a step slow.”
The Highlanders started out well, with the game tied 17-17 at the end of one quarter. St. Mary’s was able to build a 35-31 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the Rams were able to extend the lead to double-figures and it was 47-37 heading into the fourth and although Piedmont battled, it wasn’t able to come back.
“It was a great high school atmosphere,” Gardere said. “It was packed, it was fun. The girls will remember these games for a long time. I’m really proud of the girls.
“It was a tough game but a good game.”
Briana Webb led the Highlanders with 14 points. Andrea Martin had 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Savannah Dennig had nine points and five rebounds. Jenelle Solis was held to seven points but added six assists and four rebounds. The team shot just 35 percent (16 of 46) from the floor.
Nyah Bunton scored 10 of her 15 points in the first quarter for St. Mary’s. Theresa Gotico hit four 3-pointers for 12 points. Ava Perez also had 12 for the Rams.
Piedmont loses two seniors from the starting lineup: Webb and Shakila Zuberi. Freshmen Solis, Dennig and Martin make up an outstanding core for the next three years. Gardere said before the season that this team could be good. It far surpassed that expectation.
“We knew we had some talent but you never know how it’s going to shape out,” Gardere said. “They did a great job learning how to compete, being competitive. You’re co-champs of the (West Alameda County Conference Foothill division), you get picked for the (North Coast Section) Open division. You’re a Division 4 school (by enrollment) and you get put in Division 1. Obviously it didn’t end the way we wanted to, and obviously we’re really frustrated and sad but there was no reason to hang our heads.”
“This team is probably one of the better teams we’ve had at Piedmont. We’ve had some good ones but they’re definitely up there,” he said.