ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — When the eighth and final 3-pointer for Lafayette rolled in the basket, Platte County’s hopes were officially shot.
ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County junior guard Stephanie Carroll (1) drops off a pass to junior Jaycie Stubbs against Lafayette on Friday, Dec. 8 at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Mo.
Timely outside shooting helped Lafayette fend off the Pirates’ repeated advances in a 48-36 win Friday, Dec. 8 at Lafayette High School. Jacee Winn’s second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter came with 1 minute, 36 seconds left and helped the Fighting Irish finish the nonconference matchup on a 14-3 run.
Platte County continued a busy pre-holiday stretch with a fourth straight loss, dating to the championship game of the Winnetonka Invitational a week earlier.
“I think it’s more a fatigue thing,” Platte County coach Chris Stubbs said. “I’m not going make excuses for them, but what? Six games in 12 days? Emotional loss three games in a row and then try to come up and play a very physical team like this, I think it took a toll.”
Platte County junior Taylor Farr hit a 3 early in the fourth quarter, and junior Janessa Barmann added a steal and a layup to trim the Pirates’ deficit to 34-33.
Winn answered with her first of two 3-pointers, and Lafayette maintained a two-possession or more lead for the final 3:16. Her second 3 came from the left corner and rolled around the rim before going up over the basket and slipping through the net to make it 42-33 with 96 seconds left.
Platte County led once in the second half, but Lafayette hit multiple 3-pointers in three of four quarters.
ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County senior forward Lauren Walker takes a shot in traffic against Lafayette on Friday, Dec. 8 in St. Joseph, Mo.
“We’ve gotten into a mindset lately where we’re afraid to make a mistake,” Chris Stubbs said. “I think it’s going to be one of those things where — and as a coach a hate to say this — we have to shake this off and just play basketball the way we can.”
Platte County continued to tinker with starting lineups, giving junior Meghan Amos the call against Lafayette with Jaycie Stubbs working back from injury.
Barmann scored five of her seven points and junior Rockey Chambers four of her team-high 12 in a back-and-forth first quarter, but Lafayette hit a pair of 3s and went into the second up 13-11. The Irish maintained the two-point lead at halftime despite hitting just one field goal — their third 3 — during the second quarter.
Both teams were scoreless for the first 3 minutes out of halftime before Platte County senior Lauren Walker tied the score at 22-22, and Chambers’ bucket on an assist from Jaycie Stubbs gave the Pirates their final lead. The Irish closed the quarter on a 10-2 run, including three 3s, to take the lead for good.
Farr’s 3 — her lone basket — made it 34-31 before Barmann’s final bucket made it one point.
Platte County finished with four 3-pointers but attempted just four free throws. Hannah Valentine, the Pirates’ leading scorer early in the season, finished with just two points, and Lafayette’s suffocating defense benefitted in the second half, not called for a single foul until 3 minutes remained in regulation.
“I knew this would be a tough game. They do what they do really, really well,” Chris Stubbs said.
Platte County 64, St. Joseph Central 54
The Pirates snapped the four-game losing skid with a comeback effort Monday, Dec. 11 at Platte County High School.
Central led by as many as 11 in the first half, but Platte County rallied before halftime and took the lead for good early in the third quarter. Valentine scored a game-high 20 points and shot 9 of 11 on free throws to lead the Pirates.
Chambers (14) and Jaycie Stubbs (12) also finished in double figure scoring for Platte County, which outscored the Indians 18-10 in the fourth quarter.
Fort Osage 54, Platte County 53
The Pirates’ late comeback came up just short in a home game Thursday, Dec. 7 at Platte County High School.
Fort Osage led throughout, but Platte County forged ties in the second and third quarters. The Pirates’ didn’t lead until a basket with 59 seconds to go.
On the ensuing possession, Fort Osage senior Rachel Buntin converted a putback to make it 54-53. Platte County’s final possession ended with a turnover, unable to get a potential game-winning shot off.
Fort Osage hit 8 3-pointers, while Platte County shot just 14 of 32 on free throws in a frustrating loss.
Chambers posted a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds for Platte County, while Valentine had nine points and 12 boards. Barmann was the only other player in double figures with 12 points to go with a team-high four steals.
North Kansas City 53, Platte County 46
The Hornets pulled away with a dominant third quarter Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Platte County High School.
Platte County led for all of the first half and took a 28-19 lead into the break. North Kansas City outscored the Pirates 22-7 in the third quarter and held the advantage the majority of the final 12 minutes save for one brief tie in the fourth quarter.
Valentine scored 17 to go with six rebounds and five assists, hitting two of Platte County’s four 3-pointers. Chambers finished with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Walker — a senior forward — scored seven to go with nine rebounds.