East Buchanan beat North Platte for the second time this season on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at East Buchanan High School in Gower.
This one came in the Class 2 District 16 semifinals and was an easier win for the Class 2 No. 2-ranked Bulldogs, who won 48-31.
In the previous meeting, on Feb. 11, East Buchanan survived to win 41-35 in Dearborn.
East Buchanan used a big scoring advantage in the two middle quarters to pull away from the Panthers, who finished the season with a 14-13 record.
The Bulldogs led 9-6 after the first quarter but Addi Ishmael took over in the second by scoring 13 points and hitting all seven free-throw attempts.
East Buchanan led 26-11 at halftime behind that standout performance.
“If we could’ve contained Ishmael in the second quarter the game would’ve been something like 18-15 at halftime instead of 26-11,” North Platte coach Ryan Davis said. “I would’ve liked our chances. However, once they had a nice lead, I felt like their players started playing more freely and a few shots that started to fall for them in the second half and we started to force the issue on offense.”
MICAELA DEA/St. Joseph News-Press
North Platte’s Gracie Ramsey dribbles during a Class 2 District 16 game against East Buchanan on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in Gower, Mo.
North Platte had its best offensive showing in the third by scoring 11 points, but gave up 15 and trailed 41-22 going into the fourth.
McKenzie Brockhoff had nine points and nine rebounds for North Platte, while Josie Roach added nine points.
OTHER GAMES
North Andrew boys 62, West Platte 56
The old adage of it being hard to beat a team three times in one season didn’t apply to the North Andrew vs. West Platte showdowns this year.
The Cardinals picked up a third straight win over West Platte in the first round of the Class 2 District 16 tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at East Buchanan High School in Gower.
The win vaulted the Cardinals (16-8) into semifinals, where they lost to Mid-Buchanan.
The Cardinals and Bluejays each led the scoring for two quarters and West Platte closed with 23 points in the fourth but couldn’t complete the rally.
North Andrew, winner of six in a row against West Platte dating back to 2016, took a 19-11 lead in the first quarter behind the hot shooting of Tanner McDaniel. He hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in the quarter.
He was limited to four in the second quarter and West Platte rallied to pull within 28-26 at halftime thanks to 13 points from Phillip Pattison in the first half.
North Andrew led 38-33 going into the fourth and held on.
McDaniel scored 30 but was outdone by Pattison, who had 32 in his final game. The senior scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback by the Bluejays (14-12).
North Andrew beat the Bluejays three times over the past three months, winning 74-40 on Dec. 5 and then 60-43 on Jan. 31.