A big halftime lead evaporated for Park Hill South in a key Suburban Conference Red Division matchup.
Raytown battled back for a 61-59 victory behind a trio of double-digit scorers Friday, Feb. 3 in Raytown, Mo. Park Hill South appeared in position for a key win with a 39-29 advantage at the break, but the Panthers scored just 20 more points.
The loss dropped Park Hill South to 2-3 in Red Division play, fourth place behind unbeaten Raytown and 3-1 St. Joseph Central and Liberty.
Park Hill South has lost two of its past three and sits at 14-6 overall with a string of five straight conference games left to close the season. Lamel Robinson scored a team-high 17 points for the Panthers in the loss to Raytown, and he hit three of their six 3-pointers.
Raytown trailed 59-54 with 1 minute, 37 seconds to play when Isaiah Burton hit a 3 to close it to one possession. Robinson missed a pair of free throws with 17.8 seconds left, the second agonizingly rolling off the rim.
On the ensuing possession, Park Hill South fouled Raytown’s Bryan Blanks, and he hit two free throws to give the Blue Jays a 60-59 lead. The Panthers were called for an offensive foul while trying to inbound, and another foul allowed Raytown another two free throws.
After splitting the free throws with 2.8 seconds left, Robinson’s 3-point heave from half court came up short.
Raytown South 78, Platte County 53
A slow start doomed the Pirates to a blowout loss in Suburban Conference Blue Division play Friday, Feb. 3 in Raytown, Mo.
Raytown South jumped to a 27-3 lead after the first quarter. John Watts led Platte County with 18 points, while Deiondre Ragsdale added 12, including a pair of the Pirates’ five 3-pointers.
The loss ended a two-game winning streak for Platte County, which dropped to 8-12 overall (1-5 Blue Division) entering a Tuesday, Feb. 7 game at Belton. The result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.
Platte County 54, Winnetonka 52
Tanner Newberry continued a run of stellar play, knocking down two free throws with 1.8 seconds left in the Pirates’ victory Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Kansas City, Mo.
Platte County avoided an upset loss in Blue Division play in a tight defensive battle. The Pirates trailed 48-47 with 2:04 to go then lost a three-point lead ahead of Newberry’s winning free throws.
Newberry hit three 3s and wound up with a team-high 15 points — his third straight game in double figures — while Cummings and Ragsdale added 13 apiece. Platte County hit seven 3s total with Ragsdale also ending up with three.
Lee’s Summit West 52, Park Hill 50
The Suburban Conference Gold Division leaders survived for a two-point win Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Park Hill’s four-game winning streak in league play ended, and the Trojans fell a half game out of second place in the standings entering a Tuesday, Feb. 7 matchup with Lee’s Summit North, which won the first meeting between the two. The result of the rematch was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.
Chester Graves, a senior forward, returned to the lineup after missing a game while on an official football recruiting visit. He scored a team-high 14 points for Park Hill, while Dru Smith (12) and Ronnie Bell (11) also finished in double figures.
Park Hill’s five starters accounted for all 50 points.