Park Hill South kept slim Suburban Conference Red Division title hopes alive and extracted some revenge Friday, Feb. 17.
Avenging a prior loss, the Panthers rolled to a 70-48 win over St. Joseph Central in St. Joseph, Mo. behind 19 points for Connor Lee. They ended up with three double-digit scorers and nine 3-pointers in a dominant effort.
Both teams shot well from the outside in last Friday’s matchup, but the Panthers were more diverse. They hit 23 field goals total, while Central managed just four two-point baskets compared to eight from beyond the arc.
Park Hill South jumped to a 35-23 halftime lead.
While Lee patrolled the inside, Park Hill South senior Jake Kline hit five 3s for 15 points, while sophomore Lamel Robinson added four treys on his way to 18 points.
Park Hill South improved to 6-3 in Red Division play entering a Tuesday, Feb. 21 matchup with Raytown, which leads the conference at 7-1. Park Hill South needed a win there plus a loss for Raytown on Friday, Feb. 23 at Truman to force a split.
Tuesday’s result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.
Park Hill South (18-6) drew the No. 2 seed in the five-team Class 5 District 14 tournament and plays No. 3 North Kansas City in a semifinal scheduled for Thursday, March 2 at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo. Raytown is the No. 1 seed.
Park Hill South 41, Liberty 36
The Panthers survived a third quarter lull for a Red Division win Tuesday, Feb. 14 in Liberty, Mo.
Up 25-11 at halftime, Park Hill South scored just six in the next 8 minutes but never relinquished the lead. Robinson (11 points) and sophomore guard Desi Williams (10 points) were the only players in double figures, while Lee added seven with a highlight reel dunk to help the Panthers avenge a previous loss.