Park Hill South point guard Colby Kiedrowski defends a Blue Springs South player in the first half of the Panthers’ season opening 40-36 win on Nov. 28.
PARKVILLE – Early season jitters were imminent in the season opener for the Park Hill South boys’ basketball team (2-2) on Nov. 28.
Park Hill South and Blue Springs South (2-3) struggled to put the ball in the hoop early on with the road team going up 24-12 at the break. The Panthers needed nearly six minutes to make their first field goal of the year and only made three total baskets in the first half.
The Panthers missed four free throws and the Jaguars scored the final five points before the teams went into the locker room. Keegan Feder and Damon Stacker scored all the third quarter points for Park Hill South as both seniors made a pair of triples.
Stacker pulled up for two 3-pointers in the final 1:07, closing the gap to 30-28 ahead of the final period. Blue Springs South pushed the lead to five points but couldn’t stop Colby Kiedrowski.
The 5’9 point guard scored three straight layups for the Panthers, making the score 36-35 in the Jaguars’ favor with right under three minutes left in regulation. The next two minutes went scoreless, and Park Hill South drew up a play with the ball with right under a minute left.
After a series of passes and ball reversals, Kiedrowski found himself with the ball on the left wing and drove towards the basket. Kiedrowski attempted a reverse layup on the right side – putting some spin on the ball – yet the shot missed.
Feder got the rebound and floated it in to put the Panthers up for the first time on the night with 42 seconds on the clock. Michael Good came down with a board on the ensuing defensive possession and was fouled, going to the charity stripe and splitting the double bonus.
Trailing 38-36 with right under 10 seconds left, Jaguar junior A.J. Willard-Taylor drove to the basket and Kiedrowski got his hand on the ball, forcing a jump ball – which was in the Panthers’ favor. Good went back to the free-throw line, putting the game away by sinking both attempts and Park Hill South walked away with a 40-36 victory.
Stacker had a stellar start to his senior campaign, shooting 3-of-5 from behind the arc and ending with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Feder added 10 points and grabbed five boards.
Park Hill South has made it a tradition to travel to Springfield, MO, early on each season to play in the Republic Tournament and that was no different this year. The Panthers opened the tournament with a 66-58 loss to Ozark (1-2) on Nov. 29.
Kiedrowski erupted for a career-high 26 points, scoring 12 of those from the charity stripe on 15 tries. Stacker went 3-of-4 from deep to end with 13 points and four steals.
Park Hill South bounced back with a 69-54 victory over Springfield Hillcrest (0-3) on Nov. 30. Good not only scored in double figures for the first time in his varsity career but led the team with 21 points and knocked down five 3-pointers.
Park Hill South met up with Rolla (3-1) in the consolation championship, being on the wrong side of a high scoring 77-69 contest on Dec. 2. The Panthers will look to bounce back in their first true road game, a contest at Benton (2-0) on Dec. 12.