The Park Hill South girls basketball team kept their undefeated record intact last Thursday, Feb. 20, when they ruined Park Hill’s Senior Night and five-game winning streak with a 66-49 rivalry win.
The Panthers were electrifying in the first half, quickly jumping into command as they went on a 23-0 run after both teams exchanged an early bucket. Following Park Hill’s 16-point second quarter, the Trojans still trailed 42-18 at halftime.
Park Hill South senior LaNicia Parker put on a basketball clinic in the first half with 17 points. In addition to completing a traditional 3-point play to make it 11-2 in the first, Parker hit four 3-pointers.
On the heels of a 66-42 win against Liberty on Feb. 19, Park Hill South head coach Josh Dorr believes his team’s 66-42 win against Liberty on the pre- vious night helped them get off to a hot start against Park Hill.
“I think it was really good for us to play last night and come out to be able to finish things,” Dorr said. “It got us off to that quicker start. Not sitting around with all the snow days.”
Trailing 40-11 in the second quarter, Park Hill chipped away at the deficit with a 7-2 run, capped by a strong move in the paint from senior for- ward Boston Wand before time expired.
Just when it appeared Park Hill South would come out more relaxed in the second half, they did the exact opposite within the first 90 seconds. Parker hammered another pair of 3-pointers, ending the night with 25 points total, before forcing a steal for Anaya Guess to hit a triple, growing the Panthers’ lead to 35.
The Trojans settled back into the game after a timeout, outscoring the Panthers 19-11 the rest of the quarter. The game got choppy in the fourth as Park Hill South was held to just four points, all coming from the free-throw line, but managed to take the 66-49 victory.
“We played well in the first three quarters,” Dorr said. “We lost our composure at times in the fourth. Defensively, we were giving up some shots that we weren’t giving up previously. We just got to figure out how to handle that.”
After becoming the Panthers’ all-time leading scorer on Feb. 11, Addison Bjorn re- corded a career-high 36 points and 17 field goals against Liberty before adding 18 points against Park Hill. The junior also passed the 1,500-point marker against Liberty and is on pace to hit the 2,000 points early next season.
“It was cool,” Bjorn said. “I just have the same goal in mind to make a run at state and continue to work as a team at practice.”
The Panthers, ranked No. 2 in the state, improved to 24-0 with last week’s victories. They are the only undefeated team remaining in Missouri and are focused on taking it one game at a time.
“I wouldn’t say it’s expect- ed,” Bjorn said. “But it’s some- thing we’ve worked for. I think it’s deserved as we’ve continued to grow. We’ve still got the same goal in mind.”
Dorr’s expectations for his team are to work hard and play hard. They will try to finish off their immaculate regular sea- son with games against Oak Park on Feb. 25 and North Kan- sas City on Feb. 28.
“We’re having a great sea- son,” Dorr said. “We know we have a target on our back. Everyone is coming for us. That’s what happens when you play so well.”
Park Hill will look to bounce back this week with matchups against Liberty on Feb. 24 and Central on Feb. 27.