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The Piedmont Highlander

Varsity men’s basketball beats Kelseyville 70-26, Freshmen step up

Coach+Chris+Lavdiotis+motivates+the+mens+varsity+basketball+team+after+the+third+quarter+in+their+game+against+Kelseyville.+For+the+4th+quarter%2C+Piedmont+put+in+his+second+string+players+to+hold+their+67-26+lead.
Coach Chris Lavdiotis motivates the men’s varsity basketball team after the third quarter in their game against Kelseyville. For the 4th quarter, Piedmont put in his second string players to hold their 67-26 lead.
Coach Chris Lavdiotis motivates the men’s varsity basketball team after the third quarter in their game against Kelseyville. For the 4th quarter, Piedmont put in his second string players to hold their 67-26 lead.

The Highlanders got to work immediately after senior James Ormond won the tip against the Kelseyville Knights.

After a few failed attempts from both teams, the Highlanders started to develop their rhythm and began to pull ahead. Just a couple minutes into the first quarter, Piedmont was already up 16-5.

Freshmen Jordan Torio and Sean Rodriguez checked in at 1:30 left in the opening quarter, showing Coach Lavdiotis’ confidence in these new players.

Off a deflected pass, Torio recovered the ball and took it all the way to complete the +1.

On the next possession for the Highlanders, Torio attempted a 3 and missed long but Senior Dylan James-Kavanaugh sacrificed his body for a put-back lay-up.

Piedmont was both an offensive and defensive storm in the first quarter, only allowing eight points for Kelseyville and scoring 21 themselves.

Senior Adam Wuebbens came out strong to start off the second quarter with a big rebound, taking it up and getting fouled.

Torio got involved right away after he received a pass in transition and drained a shot beyond the arc. On the next possession, Rodriguez stepped back after a quick cut to nail another three-pointer for the Highlanders.

After 5 minutes into the second quarter, Ormond grabbed a pass at the free throw line and took it in for a two-hand dunk.

The Knights could not contend with the Highlanders solid defense.

With another low scoring quarter against Piedmont, Kelseyville had 17 and the Highlanders had 49 at the half.

The third quarter started slowly as the Highlanders could not connect after three misses.

Kelseyville double-teamed guard junior Joseph Powell, but it was no match for center senior Aidan Davison’s swift cut through the lane for a lay-up. Davison rewarded the point guard Powell with a role reversal pass for yet another basket.

Shooting guard senior Andy Slabaugh’s tight perimeter defense led to a blocked jump shot and in the same play center junior Chris Fetterolf denied a Kelseyville player under the basket after he secured the rebound.

After three scoreless minutes for the Knights, they connected on a three-pointer from the corner.

At the end of the third, the score was still tipped in the Highlanders’ favor, 67-26.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Lavdiotis switched his team into a 2-3 zone.

Kelseyville did not score the whole fourth quarter and Piedmont only scored three points, but in the end the Highlanders were victorious.

The final score was 70-26. The Highlanders’ pre-season record is now 1-1. Their previous loss came against Bellarmine High School.

“[This game] was a confidence booster and it assures us that we can compete,” Ormond said.

Guard senior Hayden Souza said that this win will motivate them to take on  Lick Wilmerding Tuesday, Dec. 11.

“This game was motivational because the team we are playing next is a lot better, they press, so we’ll see how we do under pressure,” Souza said. “It is going to be a contest but going in I think we have the upper hand mentally.”

The team could not have been successful without the help of Torio and Rodriguez. Torio attributes his performance and success this game to hard work and being a “gym-rat”.

“Sean and Jordan, I knew they were going to bring it. They are motivated, dedicated and skilled and I knew they were going to come out strong,” Souza said.

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