By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Westbrook Christian’s basketball season came
to screeching halt on Thursday (Feb. 19) in the Class 3A Northeast Regional
Tournament finals at Jacksonville State.
Piedmont administered at 70-48 thumping to the Warriors, who
ended the year at 22-8.
“Piedmont dominated from start to finish,” Westbrook head
coach Seth Ford said. “The game pretty much spoke for itself. But I’m
really proud of my guys for the season we had.”
After a basket by Jordan Kilgo gave the Warriors an early
2-0 lead, the Bulldogs (21-11) scored the next five points and never looked
back.
Westbrook tied it at 7-7 on a 3-pointer by Kyle Edwards, but
Piedmont went on a 14-3 run – capped by Bayley Blanchard’s jumper with 44
seconds left in the opening quarter – to take a 21-10 edge.
The Bulldogs held a 23-13 lead after eight minutes of play,
while a 19-5 run in the second quarter gave Piedmont a 42-18 lead at the half.
A 19-9 Piedmont run in the third period took away any hopes
of a Warrior comeback. The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the game at
61-25 with 40 seconds left in the third on a lay-up by CJ Savage.
Westbrook finally put together a sustained run in the fourth
period with a 21-9 stretch, but it was too little, too late.
Will Appleton led the Warriors with nine points, followed by
Chandler Richards with eight.
Piedmont placed four players in double figure scoring –
Easton Kirk with 15 points, Baley Blanchard with 14 and Tyler Lusk and Austin
Brazier with 12 each.
Richards made the all-tournament team.