A third quarter, 12-point deficit wasn’t enough to keep the Platte County boys’ basketball team (8-13) from fighting back in a home conference matchup with William Chrisman (12-11), but the Pirates came up short 51-50 on Feb. 9.
Platte County senior Chandavian Bradley was in foul trouble early, which helped William Chrisman take advantage of the situation and take control of a lead. Bradley made a deep shot from the right corner to put the Pirates up 5-4 with 4:23 left in the opening frame for their only lead in the first half.
Bradley picked up his second foul of the night less than a minute later and the Bears closed out the first quarter on a 10-1 run to lead 14-6. The Pirates made a second quarter comeback and trailed 21-15 at the break, but the Bears took a 27-15 margin in the opening minutes of the second half.
Platte County senior Boston Wahlert, above left, had eight points in the Pirates 51-50 loss to William Chrisman on Feb. 9.
Judah Vignery had a big quarter, knocking down a pair of triples and free throws to bring the game within one possession. Vignery entered the fourth quarter with 13 points and William Chrisman led 36-31.
Platte County continued to fight back in the final eight minutes, but every time the game was brought within one possession, William Chrisman responded on the other end. The Pirates made one last push in the final two minutes to make the game go down to the wire.
Boston Wahlert sank a shot from behind the arc to make bring the game within one point, but William Chrisman made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 50-47. Wahlert made a floater and then Bradley forced a steal, drew a foul, split a pair of free throws and tied the game at 50 with 1:01 left.
William Chrisman junior Trey Taylor drew a foul with 5.2 seconds left and made the second and went up 51-50. Bradley’s half-court heave was no good at the buzzer and Platte County lost another close one to the Bears, after falling 63-57 in double overtime on Dec. 9.
With the postseason approaching soon, Platte County will have three games left in the regular season starting with a pair of road games. The Pirates will head to Raytown (11-10) on Feb. 17, then to Raytown South (6-12) on Feb. 21.