Anthony Hernandez hit five 3-pointers and led all scorers, helping North Platte to a 53-37 win against rival West Platte in the consolation semifinals of the KCI Conference Tournament on Monday, Dec. 7 in Hamilton, Mo. The Panthers’ last win in the series came during the regular season Feb. 17, 2010, but West Platte won two of three meetings between the two in the 2009-2010 season. Hernandez hit two 3-pointers in both the second and third quarters, helping North Platte stretch its lead to 42-31. Kyle Ewing scored six of his 12 in the fourth quarter as the Panthers pulled away.
In the first half, Hernandez and Andrew Roberts (11 points) combined to score 18 of North Platte’s 28 points.
Kaleb Baber led West Platte with 10 points, while Luke Horseman added nine, including the Bluejays’ lone 3-pointer. Baber tallied five of West Platte’s seven points in the first quarter with the slow start dooming the Bluejays in the first of at least two matchups between the rivals this season.
West Platte made just 14 shots from the floor while going 6-for-17 at the line.
North Platte advances to the consolation final against fourth-seeded Hamilton at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10 in Hamilton, Mo. North Platte was the No. 7 seed in the field and has a chance to win two games in the KCI Tournament for the first time since claiming the consolation title in 2011.
West Platte is off to a 1-4 start.
Lawson 55, North Platte 34
North Platte started and finished slow in first-round loss Saturday, Dec. 5 in Hamilton, Mo.
Lawson built a 13-point halftime lead and pulled away for a 55-34 win against the sixth-seeded Panthers, who suffered their first loss. Cody Glenn led all scorers with 21 points, hitting five of the Cardinals’ seven 3-pointers.
Lawson led 31-18 at halftime and outscored the Panthers 11-3 in the final 8 minutes.
Roberts led North Platte with 13 points, and only six players scored for the Panthers, who made only 11 shots from the floor. Roberts hit a pair of 3s.
East Buchanan 62, West Platte 20
The sixth-seeded Bluejays were overwhelmed in the first round Saturday, Dec. 5 in Hamilton, Mo., making just six shots from the floor.
No. 3 East Buchanan led 24-5 after the first quarter and 36-12 at halftime. Horseman led West Platte with six points on a pair of first half 3-pointers, and Daniel Cicha added five points for the Bluejays with his three-point play in the fourth quarter their lone points in the final 8 minutes.
Other game
North Platte 43, Lone Jack 41, OT
The Panthers scored on the first possession of overtime Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Lone Jack, Mo. and held on to stay unbeaten.
Andrew Roberts led North Platte with 10 points, but six of seven to score for the Panthers finished with at least four points. Lone Jack’s Joey Brandon hit a shot in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter to force overtime with the teams tied at 38. He finished with 12 points, one of three for the Mules in double figures.
Anthony Hernandez hit a pair of North Platte’s three 3s and finished with eight points, while Austin Snook hit the other on his way to nine. The Panthers made just 6-of-13 free throws, including 3 of 9 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
West Platte 66, Orrick 30
The Bluejays earned their first win of the season, knocking down four 3-pointers during a decisive first half Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Weston, Mo.
Shayne Kleinsorge knocked down a pair from behind the arc — one each in the first and second quarter — and Luke Horseman and Kaleb Baber had one apiece. West Platte led 41-17 at the break with Baber with all 11 of his points and Horseman with 12 of his 17 in the first two quarters.
Brett Shepardson hit six free throws in the third quarter to finish with eight points, while Daniel Chicha matched his eight points.