North Platte’s boys hung close late but lost its KCI Conference opener Tuesday, Dec. 20 in Gower, Mo.
East Buchanan made a 14-point halftime lead stand up in a 55-43 victory. North Platte scored just 17 points in the first half but played the Bulldogs mostly even in the final two quarters.
Austin Snook hit a pair of 3-pointers and led North Platte with 10 points. Remington Wilson added nine and Ben French eight in the loss.
North Platte went into the holiday break at 2-4 overall and 0-1 in KCI play after also going 0-2 in the league tournament earlier this month. The Panthers return to action with road games at Maysville (Tuesday, Jan. 3) and North Andrew (Wednesday, Jan. 4).
GIRLS BASKETBALL
East Buchanan 60, North Platte 27
The Panthers faced a running clock at the finish of their KCI opener Tuesday, Dec. 20 in Gower, Mo.
East Buchanan took control from the outset with 27 points in the first quarter. Madison McCreary (23 points), Josie Fortney (18 points) and Samantha White (16 points) did almost all the scoring for the Bulldogs.
North Platte trailed 44-12 at halftime and 10 points in the third quarter marked the best for the Panthers in any quarter. Gracie Roach, a junior, scored eight points for North Platte, which shot just 5 of 18 on free throws.
The matchups with Maysville and North Andrew will both be doubleheaders for North Platte, which returns to KCI action Friday, Jan. 6 at home against West Platte.