Panthers beat Colts by 13, stand 5-0 in RRC
Ed Cottingham
Piedmont forward Eli Hyatt has helped his team go 9-0 against Union County schools this season.
Piedmont High's boys basketball team continues to play at a stellar level.
The Panthers defeated West Stanly 53-40 at home on Friday, allowing them to keep pace with Cuthbertson atop the Rocky River Conference standings.
Both teams are now 5-0 in the conference, while every other team has at least two losses.
Piedmont showed progress last season, finishing fourth in the RRC with an 8-6 record (11-14 overall), and carried some momentum into this year with most of the key players coming back.
This year the Panthers are 9-0 against Union County schools and are vying for the league title; they've now won four straight games to improve to 13-1 overall.
Piedmont senior forward Brady Meggs scored 17 points and senior point guard Qualen Blakeney had 11 points, eight steals, seven assists, two blocks and just one turnover in the win over the Colts.
Sophomore center Cameron Tripp contributed 13 rebounds and eight points, and senior guard Jeremy Anthony also scored eight.
Tripp is now averaging 11.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while Meggs leads the team in scoring at 17.2 ppg and ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.2 per game).
Piedmont returns to action on Friday at Union Academy.
Area conference standings
(Through Jan. 12)
Rocky River Conference
Boys
Team^League^Overall
Cuthbertson^5-0^14-1
Piedmont^5-0^13-1
Monroe^3-2^8-3
Central Academy^2-3^6-8
Forest Hills^2-3^7-7
West Stanly^2-3^5-9
North Stanly^1-5^4-11
Union Academy^0-4^0-6
Girls
Monroe^5-0^10-1
Cuthbertson^4-1^8-7
Forest Hills^4-1^10-4
North Stanly^3-3^10-5
Piedmont^2-3^6-8
Central Academy^1-4^3-11
West Stanly^1-4^5-8
Union Academy^0-4^1-5
Southern Carolina Conference
Boys
Team^League^Overall
Sun Valley^2-0^9-6
Marvin Ridge^2-0^8-6
Weddington^1-1^8-7
Anson County^1-1^7-7
Porter Ridge^0-2^4-10
Parkwood^0-2^1-11
Girls
Weddington^2-0^12-3
Porter Ridge^2-0^11-3
Parkwood^1-1^10-2
Anson County^1-1^8-4
Marvin Ridge^0-2^5-9
Sun Valley^0-2^5-10
Friday's girls scores
Cuthbertson 63, Forest Hills 56
Monroe 67, Union Academy 32
North Stanly 43, Central Academy 29
Piedmont 54, West Stanly 35
Weddington 45, Marvin Ridge 29
Porter Ridge 75, Sun Valley 17
Parkwood 68, Anson County 42
Friday's boys scores
Cuthbertson 91, Forest Hills 72
Monroe 64, Union Academy 26
Central Academy 57, North Stanly 45
Piedmont 53, West Stanly 40
Marvin Ridge 53, Weddington 51
Sun Valley 63, Porter Ridge 49
Anson County 76, Parkwood 62