PIEDMONT — The Kelseyville Knights stayed close for a half before the Piedmont Highlanders pulled away for a 60-36 victory in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division IV girls” basketball playoffs on Wednesday night in Piedmont.
“Best I”ve seen us play,” Kelseyville coach Caitlin Andrus said of the Knights” final game of the 2009-10 season. “If we had not stepped up to their intensity level, it could have been a beating.”
Piedmont (22-7), the No. 4 playoff seed, won the Stokes Tournament earlier this season in Kelseyville.
“We knew what we were up against,” Andrus said. “They”re an athletic team, well-coached and they switch it up a lot. We needed to be able to react quickly.”
The Knights (16-12) had success breaking the Highlanders” press on a handful of occasions, according to Andrus.
Piedmont held a 13-9 advantage after one quarter, increasing that margin to 34-20 by halftime.
Andrea Chenier, who is headed to New Mexico State on scholarship, scored 17 points to lead Piedmont. Saidah Allen also had 17.
“She”s a beast,” Andrus said of Allen. “She can jump ? she rips boards down.”
Skyler Olsen”s 11 points paced the Knights, Monique Santana added seven and Liz Berry and Ashley Mueller each had six.
“Santana played a fantastic game,” Andrus said of her senior point guard. “And Ashley Mueller had a great game defensively.”
Kelseyville tied Lower Lake for second place in the North Central League I North standings this season. Piedmont was the runner-up in the in the Bay Shore Athletic League.
Piedmont hosts No. 5 Marin Catholic in the quarterfinal round on Saturday night. Marin Catholic beat Lower Lake 58-29 in another first-round game Wednesday.
