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Paladins win OT thriller
Metz scamper lifts Pinecrest
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Forsyth County News
Newsroom Staff
Updated: Sep 13, 2008, 9:03 AM
Published: Sep 2, 2008, 8:29 PM

WATKINSVILLE — It was a nail-biter for Pinecrest Academy in the season opener, but the Paladins prevailed, topping Westminster Christian 30-24 in double overtime.

It was a rough start for the Paladins, as quarterback Zach Wilson threw an interception on Pinecrest’s first possession, which the Lions ran back for a touchdown, then added a two-point conversion to go up 8-0.

The visitors struck back on the opening play of the second quarter, when Wilson found the end zone on a two-yard keeper, and a Paladin two-pointer evened things up, 8-8.

The Lions took their next possession 60 yards for a score, converting the deuce to go up 16-8. Pinecrest freshman John Depalma later got his first career touchdown, hauling in a 50-yard catch with 8:13 left before halftime.

The Lions led 24-16 at the break, with neither team scoring in the third quarter.

With 8:51 left in regulation, Pinecrest’s Kevin Metz ran three yards for a touchdown and recorded the two-point conversion, which tied the game at 24. That’s where things stood after four quarters.

Overtime came next, with each team getting a shot from the opponents’ 35-yard line.

Neither team scored in the first overtime session. Westminster had a third-and-one situation at Pinecrest’s 15, but John Schaefer and E.J. Bueltel combined on a sack to force the Lions back 10 yards and into a long fourth down, which they couldn’t convert.

Schaefer, Bueltel and Michael Cassandra all recovered fumbles during the game.

The deadlock was finally settled in the second overtime, as Metz ran 10 yards for a touchdown. The ensuing two-point try was no good, but Pinecrest’s defense held the Lions out of the end zone to clinch the win on the next possession.The

Paladins travel to Macon on Friday to take on Windsor Academy, the team who ended Pinecrest’s season a year ago in the first round of the GISA state playoffs.

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Lady Paladins win region
Pinecrest girls shock top-ranked Dominion
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Pinecrest Academy’s girls pose for a photo after winning the GISA-AAA Region 1 Championship in Sandy Springs. - photo by Submitted
Newsroom Staff
Updated: Feb 19, 2009, 2:00 PM
Published: Feb 18, 2009, 8:03 PM
Pinecrest Academy’s girls pulled the rug out from under Dominion Christian.

The Lady Paladins orchestrated a 45-37 upset victory over the No. 1-ranked Lady Knights and claimed the GISA–AAA Region 1 Championship on Friday in Sandy Springs.

Dominion came into the game a perfect 27–0 this season and had defeated the Lady Paladins by more than 25 points in each of their two regular season matchups.  

Pinecrest was seeded No. 2 in the region, but was not ranked in the state poll. 

The Lady Paladins jumped out to a six-point first quarter lead and led 27–16 at the half behind 12 points by junior post player Kayla Bergen.  Dominion closed the gap to just three points with five minutes left in the game before Pinecrest shutdown the comeback with solid free throw shooting in the  closing minutes.  Pinecrest utilized a ‘diamond and one’ defense, where senior co-captain Danielle Anderson covered tournament MVP Diane Martin.  Anderson held Martin to a tournament-low three points.   

Bergen and Margaret Cassandra led the Lady Paladins in scoring with 18 and 14 points, respectively, and were named to the all-tournament team. Anderson added seven points.

“We played our best game together as a team. We had to play intense and never give up,” Anderson said.

“Margaret and Kayla played really strong from the opening tip. We were playing for Joe [Grimaldi], we could not give up.”

The Lady Paladins have dedicated their season to Pinecrest graduate Joe Grimaldi, brother of freshman forward Julia Grimaldi, who passed away in December after a long and courageous battle with cancer.   

“Our goal was to come out strong and win the first quarter. We tried to keep them from driving by playing a 2–3 zone and they still drove on us,” Pinecrest coach Kevin Furtado said.

“We had great leadership from our seniors, Abby Boone and Danielle Anderson.  Abby had the game of her career.”

Pinecrest was set to face John Milledge Academy in the opening round of the GISA–AAA state tournament on Wednesday in Macon (result not available).

“The season is a journey,  we  have to put this behind us and go to the state tournament,” Furtado said  “All teams will be good, we have to come ready to play.”
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