By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Piedmont’s Rylie Burnett delivered when it mattered most Tuesday night.
The sophomore point guard scored 13 points – eight in the fourth quarter and six consecutive points in the last two minutes – as the sixth-ranked Lady Wildcats held off a late charge from No. 12 MacArthur to win 45-44 in what was likely a preview of a postseason matchup later this season.
Jillian Crawford also scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds as PHS (6-2) won its fourth straight and improved to 2-0 in the newly opened Wildcat Athletic Center.
“This was good for our kids because we didn’t win some of these kinds of games last year,” head coach Eric Carr said. “We made some mistakes in the fourth quarter, but we overcame them and didn’t get down on ourselves and let it snowball.”
Sixth-ranked @CatsPiedmont hang on for a 45–44 victory over No. 12 MacArthur. Jillian Crawford 13 points, 8 rebounds. Rylie Burnett also had 13 & some key late baskets. #okpreps pic.twitter.com/Gy7S6hLeym
— Blake Colston (@CBlakeColston) January 4, 2023
For Burnett, the big plays that swung the game in Piedmont’s direction were a result of thinking less and letting her talent take over, Carr said. All of Burnett’s late buckets came on drives to the basket.
“Rylee thinks a lot and when she does, she struggles a little bit,” he said. “She really was aggressive down the stretch going past people and finishing. She had a lot of composure and made a bunch of big plays for us.”
No other Lady ‘Cats reached double figures in the game, but Khloe Carr and Macy Lee each scored six points, with Carr nailing a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
“It was a good grind it out win,” Eric Carr said. “We’re going to be in these kinds of games.”
Neither team could create a margin larger than five points. Piedmont led by three after one quarter, by two at half and by only three after the third quarter.
MacArthur’s Tajanah Mardenborough knocked down a 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to pull the Lady Highlanders within 20-18.
Carr was whistled for a technical foul as both teams headed for their locker rooms after he argued a no-call that occurred in the final moments of the second quarter.
Janaiyah Fisher knocked down both technical free throws and Mardenborough hit a 3-pointer to open the third quarter that combined to form an unconventional 8-0 run for the Highlanders.
Mac, which ended Piedmont’s season a year ago, dropped to 3-4 with the loss.
“We’ll see them again, most likely,” Carr said.
Piedmont returns to action Thursday at the Weatherford Classic.
BOYS
Piedmont 57, MacArthur 42
Jeremiah Weay is what Piedmont head coach Brandon Jackson considers a ‘low maintenance player.’
“He honestly doesn’t care if we run a play for him or not. He’s still going to play hard,” Jackson said. “He’s a really good basketball player.”
Weay turned in a relentless performance Tuesday on his way to a team-high 16 points as Piedmont (6-2) coasted past 12th-ranked MacArthur as the Wildcats equaled their win total from each of the last two seasons combined in only eight games.
“We’re just bought into one goal. We don’t care who scores or gets the rebounds or who starts,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, if we win, no one is going to know who led us in scoring.”
Freshman Hudson Hite chipped with 11 points and Ryder Anderson also had 11. Hite hit his third 3-pointer of the night with 5:36 left to play in the third quarter to give the ‘Cats their largest lead of the night, 39-24, and with Piedmont’s defense stifling the Highlanders offense that was more than enough cushion.
“If we defend and make the other team take bad shots and turn it over, we’re going to be in every game,” Jackson said.
Piedmont returns to action Thursday at the Weatherford Classic.
