Park Hill South point guard Colby Kiedrowski attempts a reverse layup in the Panthers’ overtime loss to Liberty on Feb. 16.
LIBERTY – Park Hill South (8-16) had some tough breaks down the stretch to keep the Panthers from walking away with a road win against the Liberty boys’ basketball team (14-9) on Feb. 16.
The game needed extra time to decide a victor and the home team had some calls go in their favor on their courtwarming. The Blue Jays scored their final nine points from the charity stripe, winning 55-48.
All four quarters were competitive, and the Panthers were trailing 41-40 with 90 seconds to go in regulation and called a timeout on offense. Carson Bjorn found a cutting Colby Kiedrowski for the go-ahead bucket on the ensuing play.
The final Liberty field goal of the night happened with 14 seconds left – after Kiedrowski added three more free throws – when Kale Mortimer brought the game within two points. Damon Stacker went 1-of-2 from the line on the other end and the Blue Jays got the ball back trailing 46-43.
Deacon Price had an open look from the top of the key and Kiedrowski jumped in front of him to contest the shot, appearing to avoid contact, but was called for the foul. Price knocked down all three shots to tie the game with 4.2 seconds left.
Kiedrowski got one last shot off, but there was a clock issue and while it appeared Park Hill South would get another play, the official’s announced regulation was over. The Panthers bench was then given a technical foul, so the Blue Jays started overtime with a pair of free throws and the ball instead of the classic half-court tip-off.
Liberty made the free throws to take a lead, followed by a steal by Kiedrowski on the first possession. The senior tied the game at 48 for what ended up being the only overtime points by the Panthers.
Trailing 50-48 with right over a minute left in overtime, Kiedrowski made a layup but was called for a charge, so the basket was waived off. The Blue Jays added five more free throws and the Panthers missed their final three shots of the night, falling short by six points.
To start off the game, Park Hill South opened the night with back-to-back timely possessions to take a 5-0 lead. Keegan Feder added a three later in the quarter and Liberty beat the buzzer on a basket on a full-court pass after a blocked shot and trailed 8-6.
Liberty erupted for three buckets from behind the arc in the last 3:13 of the half and Park Hill South went into the locker room down 23-21. The Blue Jays extended the margin to 35-29 after three periods.
Park Hill South ended the regular season with a home matchup against Lee’s Summit North (13-11) on Feb. 20. The Panthers are the No. 7 seed in the Class 6 District 8 Tournament and have a first-round matchup with the reigning Class 6 State Champion Staley (20-5) on Feb. 29 at North Kansas City High School.