Piedmont runs off Cardinal Newman with 19-0 late-game sprint, bursting into NCS Open semifinals

PIEDMONT — You can see a lot from the top of a hill. 

You can see the miles down below and the routes to get there. And you can plot a course to reach your destination.

So it was fitting that as No. 3 Piedmont took control of its NCS Open Division quarterfinal game against No. 6 Cardinal Newman at home in the Oakland Hills, it was the Highlanders that carefully plotted a course to victory across the first three quarters.

Then in the fourth, they pounced, unleashing a downhill barrage of fast-break points and suffocating defense that ballooned the deficit past 20. 

When the dust settled, Piedmont had run Newman off the floor with a 66-45 win, holding the Cardinals to four points in the final period and preventing CN from scoring until the inconsequential final three minutes of action.

Piedmont (21-3) will take on No. 2 Carondelet (23-5) in the NCS semifinals on Wednesday in Concord. 

“It is definitely part of who we are, who we like to be,” Piedmont coach Bryan Gardere said of getting out in transition. “Doesn’t always happen. But for us, it’s more fun too, because you get more bites at the apple, you know? We knew we were gonna take quick shots. It wasn’t a mystery thing. We’re trying to push it.”

Piedmont pushed hardest during a 19-0 run that ended the game as it stretched across the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. What began as a slim 43-41 edge became a lights-out 62-41 advantage. 

“We need to run,” Gardere said. “We’re a better team when we run and we share it and we spray it out.”

The Highlanders benefitted from the return of point guard Jenelle Solis, who had missed all but one game since December with a sprained foot. 

Solis turbocharged Piedmont’s attack, spreading the ball around to Andrea Martin, Taylor White Savannah Dennig and Alexa Ba, all of whom ran out in transition and scored around the basket or drew fouls.

Piedmont’s quick-strike attack was so devastating that the Highlanders converted multiple baskets and drew fouls even when pushing the ball up the floor right after Newman (21-8) scored.

“She did a very solid job for having been out,” Gardere said of Solis. “For only playing two days in the last five weeks, not bad at all. The passing and the ball handling and only a few turnovers, and that’s gonna happen when the ball’s in your hand all the time. You’re gonna turn that thing over a little bit, especially the way that we like to play. So it was good. We love to have her back, so we’re excited about that.” 

Piedmont is guaranteed a spot in the CIF NorCal playoffs thanks to making the Open, so the Highlanders aren’t playing for their playoff lives. But they recognize the precious opportunity they have to reintegrate Solis and push for a home regional game at the very least.

“I’m glad we got to do it at home,” Gardere said of winning on Thursday. “We have presidents’ week (break), and we still have some people here, so that’s fun. I wish the next game was home, so the home fans get to see a game with the student body here, but that’s OK., yeah, Maybe CIF, maybe not.

“It’s gonna be tough, but that’s what the Open is about, basically. You’re putting all these really good teams in one thing, and we just knock each other around a little bit, and then you got to go play in CIF. That’s the hard part.”

Madin led Piedmont with 18 points, and Ba had 16. Solis and Dennig had nine apiece, and White added eight.

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