North Platte claimed a good win against a fellow ranked team Jan. 2 at North Andrew High School in Rosendale, Mo. The Panthers picked up a 69-53 win against North Andrew — Class 1’s No. 10-ranked team according to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll released Dec. 24. The Cardinals were also the state runner-up in Class 1 last season, while North Platte comes off another playoff appearance and a Class 2 quarterfinal loss earning the No. 2 slot in the latest Class 2 MBCA poll.
North Platte senior forward Chelsi Sams finished with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds, while juniors Kaycee Hodgson and Erin Manville also pulled in seven boards and combined to score 14 points.
“We played a solid game offensively,” North Platte coach Karl Matt said. “We had major foul trouble early in the game, but our depth really came through for us as we had 10 players play effective minutes in the first half. In many ways, it was the best we have played so far this year, and hopefully, we continue to improve as the year goes on.”
North Platte (8-0) also received key contributions from senior Courtney Kipping (12 points and six assists) and Baylie Wilson (eight points and four rebounds).
North Andrew dropped to 7-2. The Cardinals lost two games all of last season, the state championship game and a 81-77 loss to Nodaway-Holt, which finished the regular season undefeated before tripping up against Mercer in Class 1 sectional play.
North Platte ended a long layoff and returned to action on Tuesday, Jan. 6 but results were not available at The Citizen’s deadline. The Panthers (1-0 in KCI Conference play) return to league action on Friday, Jan. 9, hosting rival West Platte at 6 p.m.
Oak Park girls 55, Park Hill South 36
The Panthers were pounded on the glass and once again be faced with the prospect of a losing streak after a loss on Monday, Dec. 5 at Oak Park High School. Park Hill South defeated the Lady Oakies in the Winnetonka Tournament on the way to a second-place finish earlier in the year, their last win before a four-game losing streak.
In the latest matchup, Oak Park collected 31 rebounds — seven offensive — to 12 total boards for undersized Park Hill South.
Sydney Baska scored a team-high 11 points in the losing effort, while Erica Timmerman added seven. Mackenzie Stout and Ashton Gray contributed six apiece.
Park Hill South hosts Park Hill on Monday, Jan. 12 in the Suburban League Red Division opener for both teams.