With a chance to start 2-0 for the first time since 2017, the Platte County girls’ basketball team (1-1) dug itself into a double-digit hole with a rough third quarter and a late comeback bid came up short in the opening round of the Winnetonka Invitational on Nov. 28.
Entering the Cardinal Division of the tournament with a matchup with a Class 6 opponent, St. Joseph’s Central (1-0), the Lady Pirates were leading by a point at the break but were outscored 21 to seven in the third quarter. Platte County brought the game within six points in the final two minutes but ultimately fell, 51-40.
Platte County had a sluggish start to the game – falling behind 5-0 and being scoreless in the opening 2:47 – before Reese Pickett scored a layup to spark an 11 to four run. Lydia Doole knocked down a trey from the left corner before Lauren Stone scored a coast-to-coast layup and a pair of free throws to tie the game at nine.
Platte County senior Joslyn Hupp, above left, goes up for a layup over a pair of St. Joseph’s Central defenders in the Winnetonka Invitational on Nov. 28.
The Lady Pirates took their first lead of the night when Haley Barlow made a trip to the charity stripe and knocked both of them down. Central split a pair of free throws with 11.2 seconds left and Platte County took an 11-10 margin when the first quarter buzzer sounded.
Four different Lady Pirates scored a bucket in the second quarter and both squads scored eight points as Platte County took a 19-18 lead at halftime. The Lady Indians poured out a pair of shots from behind the arc and made all five of their free throw attempts in the third quarter to regain and push the lead to 39-26 as a 3-pointer by Stone was the only Platte County field goal in the frame.
After Central scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, Pickett knocked down a shot from downtown and the Lady Indians matched that on the other end to go up by 15. With 4:46 left, Doole converted on a 3-point play to ignite a late comeback attempt.
Pickett followed that bucket up with a pair of layups to cut the margin to 10 points with right over two minutes remaining in regulation. Doole dished it to Stone for a bucket and then a Joslyn Hupp layup brought the game within six points.
A 46-40 score was the closest the game was for the rest of the way as Platte County couldn’t capitalize on any more opportunities down the stretch. In the final 1:15, including its final offensive possession, the Lady Pirates turned the ball over three times.
Pickett led Platte County with 14 points – making three of her four free throw attempts and one 3-pointer – while Stone had 11 points and Doole had eight points. After the loss, the Lady Pirates were scheduled for a matchup with Oak Park (0-2) on Nov. 29 with a chance to move to the fifth-place game in the Cardinal Division on Dec. 1 at 7:30.