Park Hill South suffered its first loss of the season in a back-and-forth matchup with a Suburban Conference Red Division foe Saturday, Dec. 10 in the championship game of the Citizens Bank Classic in Leavenworth, Kan.
Liberty held on for a 56-50 win in the first of at least three meetings between the two teams this season. Park Hill South received 46 of its 50 points from its starters, despite sophomore Desi Williams going without a point in 32 minutes.
Jacob Kline, a senior guard, led Park Hill South with 14 points, while sophomore Lamel Robinson added 12. Saadique Perkins and Connor Lee scored 10 apiece for the Panthers, who trailed 44-36 in the third quarter and didn’t quite recover.
Park Hill South led 12-7 after the first quarter but battled foul trouble and tough shooting on free throws and 3-pointers. The Panthers were just 16 of 26 at the line and 2 of 13 beyond the arc.
There were four ties and four lead changes.
Park Hill South had started the season 4-0 and came in ranked No. 7 in the most recent Class 5 Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll. However, the Panthers posted a season-low for points with Robinson and Perkins fouling out.
Kline, Williams and reserve MJ Walker (two points) all finished with four fouls. Williams went 0-for-5 from the floor, missing all three 3-point tries and both free throw attempts.
Park Hill South 66, Washington (Kan.) 55
The Panthers started fast with 43 points in the first half of a semifinal Friday, Dec. 9 in Leavenworth, Kan.
Robinson scored a game-high 18 points and helped Park Hill South to a 43-29 halftime lead. The Panthers hit five 3s and shot 19 of 27 on free throws, winning by double digits despite scoring just 13 points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth quarter.
Park Hill South 76, Life Prep Academy 48
The Panthers pulled away in the second half of their tournament opener Thursday, Dec. 8 in Leavenworth, Kan. Robinson had 21 points, while Perkins put up a season-high 16 in his third game with Park Hill South since transferring from Sumner Academy (Kan.).
Park Hill South had 30 total field goals and 29 were two-point baskets.