Girls 7th Grade Highlanders Finish Regular Season 11-0

The seventh grade Highlanders finished their regular season undefeated, with a record of 11-0, winning the majority of those games by more than 20 points. The Highlanders played Moraga, Albany, Martinez and Longfellow (Berkeley) Middle Schools twice each, and Orinda, Stanley, and Lincoln (Alameda) once.

Working with coaches Drew Nash and Mo Bowie, the Highlanders showed off their skills and their speed throughout the season. Team members included Gracie Ellis, Ashley Gao, Gabrielle Garcia, Maeve Gilbert, Erin Hong, Julie Huffaker, Frannie Lahey-Teare, Maxine Miller, Erin Sturdivant, Zoe Rickard, Megan Tang, and Emily Yu.

7th Grade Highlanders Take 3rd Place

Playing strong through three games during finals week, the 7th grade Highlanders went 2-1 in the end-of-season tournament, capping their 11-0 regular season with a third-place trophy.

On Tuesday, the Highlanders faced a Benicia team they hadn’t met in regular-season play. Despite a good overall effort, and a particularly strong game from point guard Gracie Ellis, the Highlanders were unable to match Benicia’s strength and came up short, with a score of 37-25. (Benicia went on to win the tournament.)

On Thursday, the Highlanders prevailed against an energetic Orinda team. Guest coach Parker kept the defense moving and the Highlanders won a narrow victory, setting them up for the third-place battle.

Friday’s game for 3rd place against Martinez was by far the Highlanders’ best game of the
week, with impressive defense all around and a balanced offensive effort. In an exciting
game on Martinez’s home court, Gracie Ellis led the scoring with 6 points and Frannie
Lahey-Teare with 4; Guppy Garcia, Maeve Gilbert, Megan Tang, and Julie Huffaker each
contributed a bucket.

On the defensive end, Frannie Lahey-Teare had several steals and blocked shots; Maxine Miller and Zoe Rickard also forced turnovers while Erin Hong used her speed to thwart the Martinez offense. Emily Yu and Ashley Gao were strong on the boards with several rebounds each, as was Maeve Gilbert. Erin Sturdivant and Zoe Rickard sparked the offense and were in the right place at the right time. The Highlanders’ showed real team play and good ball movement throughout, and ended up with a 19-16 win. The referees named Gracie Ellis one of five all-tournament MVPs.

PMS Defense Stifles St. Theresa

February 04, 2014 - 7th Grade Basketball - St. Theresa School at Piedmont Middle School.

St. Theresa had the first possession but Piedmont applied tough defense via a full court press and held St. Theresa scoreless for the first 4 1/2 minutes of the game.  Ethan Croley began to take control in the paint on the offensive and defensive end in addition to early offensive production from Kieran Linnane and Darryl Tjogas.  Isaiah Campbell and Julian Lopez each contributed 3 point baskets as well.  Piedmont lead by 10 at the end of the 1st quarter.      

The 2nd quarter began with a 3 point basket by Dylan Han, while guards Campbell, Owen Levinson and Justin Casey continued to distribute the ball effectively on the offensive end while applying pressure on the defensive end.  Julian Lopez made a back door pass to Casey who converted the basket with the half ending St. Theresa 15 Piedmont 25.

The 3rd quarter was scoreless for the first 3 minutes until Joe Sassi was fouled in the paint but converted the basket.  Levinson then made a back door pass to Casey who converted the play and had a few steals.  Piedmont then applied a stout defense for the remainder of the quarter, with rebounding from Croley, Linnane and Tjogas, holding St. Theresa to only 2 points overall in the 3rd quarter.  No doubt the best defensive quarter of the season for Piedmont.

Piedmont's strong defensive front continued to stymie the St. Theresa offense in the 4th quarter while the Piedmont offense continued to roll.  Campbell driving to the basket and converting, Ian Joseph lay up, Campbell steal for a lay up, Joseph 3 point basket finishing with a Lopez steal and pass to Casey for a lay up. 

Piedmont, now 3-4 on the season, finished the game on the winning side with a final score St.Theresa 21 Piedmont 46.  Piedmont's Ethan Croley led all scorers with 10 points, Isaiah Campbell 7 and Justin Casey 6.

Go Highlanders!

Piedmont loses thriller to Stanley

Stanley 44, Piedmont 41

The first period was a defensive battle, which ended with Stanley ahead 7-6. Ethan Croley and Joe Sassi played strong defense and controlled the boards, while Owen Levinson demonstrated some nifty ballhandling skills.

Piedmont went into the half with an 18-16 lead, with more good defense leading to layups and other easy baskets. Julian Cortez-Lopez scored two baskets, and Ian Joseph and Justin Casey pushed the ball up court after turnovers.

Stanley started hot in the third quarter, hardly missing any shots in amassing a 29-20 lead. But Piedmont stormed back, led by Isaiah Campbell’s ballhandling and penetration, and trailed by just 32-27 at the end of the period.

The fourth quarter seesawed back and forth, with Piedmont pulling as close as 1 point. Campbell continued to drive, with assists to Darryl Tjogas and Dylan Han for key baskets. In the end, Stanley hit a few clutch foul shots to put the game away.

Campbell and Tjogas led the scoring with 8 points apiece; Campbell had 3 assists; and Croley and Sassi each had 6 rebounds.

7th Grade Highlanders Strong Against Head Royce

Piedmont 43, Head Royce 32

Piedmont got back on the winning track with a hard-fought victory over Head Royce. After a close first half, Piedmont broke the game open late in the second half with tenacious defense and timely shooting.

The teams traded baskets in the first half, which ended with Piedmont up 22-20. Isaiah Campbell led the offense with several assists, while Joe Sassi scored 4 points. Ethan Croley anchored the defense, swatting away several shots, while Ian Joseph and Dylan Han played tough on the perimeter. Justin Casey used his blinding speed to penetrate and draw fouls, while Julian Cortez-Lopez launched several long-range jumpers.

Piedmont dominated in the second half, with Casey distributing the ball and Owen Levinson knocking down several jumpers, including two 3-pointers. Levinson, Kieran Linnane, and Darryl Tjogas put on a passing clinic in the half court offense, and left with Piedmont up 28-20 late in the 3^rd quarter. The Highlanders extended the lead over the next few minutes, with Sassi and Croley patrolling the paint and Joseph and Campbell breaking the Head Royce press for several easy layups.

Campbell and Levinson led the scoring with 10 points each. Sassi and Croley each secured 8 rebounds, while Joseph had 5 assists.

7th Grade Basketball - Piedmont Middle School Highlanders at Willard Middle School

The 7th grade Piedmont Highlanders opened their 2014 season against Willard Middle School in Berkeley.

The game began with Piedmont winning the opening jump ball and was a nice defensive battle at the start. Piedmont initiated a full court press during the 1st quarter and the score reflected the tough defense on both ends of the floor with a tied score of 7-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.  

In the 2nd quarter Piedmont executed nice ball rotation and player movement without the ball which created easy scoring opportunities for Piedmont which they capitalized on.  Ethan Croley, Kieran Linnane, Joe Sassi, Darryl Tjogas and Kieran Linnane contributed heavily on the offensive and defensive boards with each scoring as well.  Willard countered with a couple of 3 point baskets and the 1st half came to a close with Piedmont leading 19-16.

The 3rd quarter began with Willard having possession of the ball.  Piedmont's stout defense and continued execution of their offense began to open up the game.  Justin Casey initiated some of the offense and the 3rd quarter ended with a fast break by Ian Joseph who passed to an open Owen Levinson who converted the lay up putting Piedmont ahead 36-22.

The 4th quarter offered more of Piedmont's offensive threat and defensive prowess with 3 point baskets by Ian Joseph and Julian Lopez and a nice back door play from Isaiah Campbell to Dylan Han with a final score of Piedmont 52 Willard 27.   

In all, Piedmont held all of the Willard players who scored to single digits while Piedmont's Isaiah Campbell led all scorers with 10 points, Ian Joseph and Julian Lopez had 7 points a piece. 

Go Highlanders!