Piedmont enjoying perfect storm of success

The Piedmont High Panthers boys basketball squad is off to its best start in recent memory, improving to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the Rocky River Conference, following recent road wins over Forest Hills and Monroe.

Coach Rudi Heath – who brings 27 years of head-coaching experience from North Stanly and West Stanly with him – is in his first year with Piedmont.

Heath spent the last two years as athletic director at West Stanly. He left coaching after taking the AD position due to county policies that don’t allow individuals to serve as both athletic director and head coach.

“I had some interest in the AD role at West when it came open and thought it may be the right time in my career to make that move,” Heath said.

By his second year out of coaching, the desire to be back on the bench really started to get to him.

“Last year it got to where I had a hard time going to games. And I knew if the right opportunity came along, I would love to get one more shot.”

An opening did come during the summer with the retirement of Mike Connelley, who had guided the Piedmont Panthers during the 2011-12 campaign. Principal Jonathan Tyson met Heath when Tyson was the basketball coach at Forest Hills and faced off against Heath’s West Stanly teams; the new principal informed the veteran coach of the opening.

Once Heath accepted the head coaching role, the “perfect storm” came together for the 2012-13 season.

Luke Collins called about being an assistant coach. Collins is widely regarded as one of the best basketball minds in Union County. He guided the Monroe High basketball team for 19 years (including the school’s 1980 state championship) before entering administration.

“Luke Collins is an encyclopedia of basketball knowledge,” Heath said. “I learn something new about the game every day from him, and he has been a tremendous asset to this team.”

Next came the team.

Heath instantly noticed the size on the Panthers squad. He has 6-foot-5, 200-pound senior Brady Meggs and 6-foot-6, 200-pound sophomore Cameron Tripp.

Meggs averaged 16.7 points per game last season on a team that finished 11-14, and he is close to that average again this year at 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He was voted a co-captain this year alongside fellow senior Qualen Blakney – a 5-foot-11, 160-pound guard – who is averaging 11.4 points and almost five assists per game.

The co-captains are two of four Piedmont starters averaging at least 10 points a game. They are joined by Tripp, who tallies 11.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, and senior guard Jeremy Anthony. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Anthony helped provide Piedmont one of the final pieces of the puzzle over the summer when he decided to transfer back to his local school from Union Academy.

His 10.3 points a game, and the depth he provides in the backcourt, have been invaluable.

Eli Hyatt – a 6-foot-3, 190-pound forward – has been a versatile presence, playing inside or out and creating matchup problems.

The team jumped out to a 9-0 start – with every nonconference game coming against 3A and 4A opponents – before falling in the championship game of the Lee County Basketball Shootout to 4A Durham Jordan. Piedmont responded with a victory over upstart conference foe Central Academy and big road wins over two longtime rivals in Forest Hills and Monroe. A first place Rocky River showdown with the Cuthbertson Cavaliers looms on Jan. 22; the Panthers and Cavaliers are the two remaining undefeated teams in league play.

Heath spoke of the high quality of competition in Union County athletics right now. That may not be anywhere more evident than at Piedmont High School, home of the defending 2A state wrestling champions – and a very competitive athletic program.

The boys’ basketball program will look to continue its strong play down the stretch in conference play. A banner in the old gym at Piedmont reveals a single sectional championship for the boys’ program from 1989. Heath believes this team has a chance to do some special things on the basketball court.

“These opportunities that we have don’t come around all the time,” Heath said. “I just want these guys to remember to appreciate the journey and make the most out of this chance to play together.”