By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Jillian Crawford called game Monday night.
Though Piedmont’s outside shooting had gone cold, when the ball came Crawford’s way in the final minute of an overtime thriller, she put up a deep 3-point attempt with plenty of confidence.
“I knew it was going in,” she said.
Crawford was right. Her shot swished through, and the Lady ‘Cats’ defense clamped down to force an air ball on Guthrie’s final possession as No. 6 Piedmont held on for a 49-46 victory over the Blue Jays inside the Wildcat Athletic Center.
Crawford finished with 14 points as Piedmont won for the sixth time in its last seven games.
Just like they did at second-ranked Carl Albert on Jan. 27, the Lady Wildcats relied on their defense to close out a one-possession game. Both times, Piedmont forced a contested shot that didn’t hit the rim.
“We win games by making big defensive stops,” Crawford said.
Senior guard Khloe Carr added a team-high 16 points and was a key part of Piedmont’s defensive adjustments that limited Guthrie to only six points throughout the fourth quarter and overtime. Carr took three charges and drilled five 3-pointers.
“We put her in the help position because she’s always set to take a charge,” Crawford said of Carr. “She’s good at her job.”
Guthrie’s Anjewl Murrillo finished with 12 points for the Blue Jays (10-7). Late in the game, Piedmont opted to double team Murrillo and held her scoreless over the final five minutes of regulation and overtime.
“I kept telling them, we’re struggling to shoot it. We have to win it on the defensive end,” head coach Eric Carr said. “That’s what we’re going to live and die by.”
Piedmont improved to 8-0 against Class 5A competition and held its opponent under 50 points for the 19th time in 20 games this season.
BOYS
Piedmont 58, Guthrie 41
Colton Sydnes led three Wildcats in double figures with 16 points as Piedmont rolled past Guthrie.
Jeremiah Weay and Walker Kennedy each chipped in with 10 points as PHS outscored the Blue Jays 22-11 to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Colton Sydnes drains a 3-pointer. Piedmont out of the gates on a 14-4 run here in the 3Q. #okpreps pic.twitter.com/NuoXyIzYfs
— Blake Colston (@CBlakeColston) February 7, 2023
“We can always play better, but we’re getting our chemistry down,” head coach Brandon Jackson said. “That’s the most important thing for us.”
Ethan Holliday, a transfer from Yukon, gained eligibility in the last month and has shifted into the starting lineup at point guard to help solidify Piedmont’s back court. Holliday scored nine points on Monday.
Piedmont hosts second-ranked Del City and McDonald’s All-American forward Brandon Garrison on Tuesday.
Read more in Thursday’s print edition of The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette.
