MONTICELLO, Ga. — The Piedmont Academy varsity boys' basketball team proved to be the Class of GISA Region 1-AA, capping a tournament championship with a victory against Windsor Academy on Saturday.
The Cougars (17-7) were undefeated in region play in the regular season and then earned a hard-fought win in the tournament championship on Saturday. Piedmont defeated Windsor Academy, 77-51 in the region title game in a contest that was closer than the final score indicated.
“We still have more things left to accomplish but it was great for both of our teams to win it all," said boys' head coach Will Johnson. "I congratulate coach [Michael] Wilson and the girls for their championship as well. It was a great overall night for Piedmont Academy basketball."
The Cougars actually trailed 15-9 after the first quarter before rallying to lead 29-21 at halftime.
"It was a little helter-skelter at first," Johnson said. "Even late in the game we had all five players on the floor with four fouls. We had some tough calls go against us but we fought through it. We stayed calm and played solid until our offense got going."
Johnson credited assistant coach Mike McCart for keeping him under control during some of the questionable foul calls.
Ryan Holder had a huge night with 31 points and Luke Welch added 20. Johnson also credited Cole Wade, Cameron Mobley and Spencer Carter for their roles in the region championship game.
Mobley finished with 11 points and has been a key addition to the team for the second half of the season.
"Our roster had gotten thin,” Johnson said. "Cameron played for me when he was a sophomore. We talked and I asked him to come out and give us another player. He has given great effort and provided a great spark of energy. He is a great rebounder and when he makes a few baskets it is just icing on the cake. In our last three games he has averaged 13 points off the bench. We will need that going into the state tournament."
In the semifinals on Friday, the Cougars defeated St. George Episcopal School, 74-23.Holder led a balanced offensive attack with 24 points while Mobley finished with 13 points. Jeb Satterfield, Luke Welch and Bradley Greenwood scored eight points while Jackson Welch finished with seven points.
The Region 1-AA tournament was hosted by Piedmont Academy.
The Cougars are the No. 3 seed for the GISA Class AA state tournament. Piedmont will host First Presbyterian Christian Academy Wednesday at 6 p.m. A win would put the team into the state quarterfinals on Saturday in Macon at 3 p.m. against the winner of Westwood-Brentwood.
“We will just go one game at a time,” Johnson said. “We have to keep working but I think we are in a good bracket. We have seen Brentwood twice.”
