The Piedmont High School girls basketball team was handily defeated by visiting Carondelet on Feb. 15, 83-53. The North Coast Section Open Division playoff game saw the Cougars jump out to a 13-2 lead and never look back.
The Highlanders will play for fifth place in the Division at Acalanes on Feb. 21. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Carondelet was the third seed and Piedmont was seeded sixth. The Cougars are very highly-regarded and are now 26-4 on the season. They advance to face Cardinal Newman in the semifinals on Feb. 21. The Highlanders fell to 19-6.
This was the first time Piedmont played in the Open Division. Previously, the Highlanders were prevented from being seeded into it because they were Division 4. Only teams from the top three divisions could play. All six teams in the Open Division will still make the California Interscholastic Federation tournament, which will begin Feb. 27-28.
Natalia Martinez scored 38 points to lead Piedmont against Carondelet. Twenty-five of her points came in the second half.
Layla Dixon led the Cougars with 19 and Sophia Ross added 17.