Piedmont Hills survived a close, physical game to turn back previously unbeaten Willow Glen 54-51.
"They were undefeated, so when you go into an undefeated team's house and you win, you're very happy. We almost collapsed down the stretch, but we were tough enough to hold on," said Pirates Pete Simos.
Willow Glen (11-1 overall, 1-1 BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division) led by three after one quarter. Piedmont Hills (10-2, 2-0) didn't make its move until the second quarter, managing a 26-17 halftime lead.
The Rams tried valiantly to get back in the game with Bacon Turner firing up numerous three-pointers. But nothing could slow the Pirates, who took a 45-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
Paced by Taylor Meeker, Willow Glen began to rally in the fourth quarter, closing the deficit to 54-49 with a minute left. The Rams did nudge to within three points of the Pirates but could get no closer.
"I am proud of the way they played," Willow Glen coach Todd Meeker said. "I'm proud that they didn't give up, and they came on strong at the end. Unfortunately a bad second quarter offensively hurt us, but I'm very happy with the way they played."
When asked what Simos believed his team needed to improve on, he jokingly replied, "Yeah, not throwing the ball to them."
