In a highly anticipated Kansas City Suburban Conference Blue Division matchup between the Platte County boys’ basketball team (11-2, 5-1 conf.) and Smithville (10-5, 3-2 conf.), the rivalry game lived up to the hype on Jan. 21.
In a packed gymnasium at Smithville High School, what was a double-digit lead by the Pirates went down to the wire in the closing minutes. After Platte County led 26-13 at the end of the first quarter and 41-29 at the break, Smithville fought back in the fourth quarter, but the Pirates pulled out the victory, 74-73.
In the first few minutes of the final frame, the Warriors took their first lead since the opening seconds when they converted on a pair of free throws and then they sunk one of their eleven 3-pointers to give them a 65-61 lead with 4:32 remaining. Brody Fulk and Jace Trimble rattled in back-to-back treys to tie Smithville at 71 with 1:19 left.
Before fouling out, Isaac Havemeier, above, ended with 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks on Jan. 21.
After a Smithville free throw put it on top 72-71, Platte County answered with a Chandavian Bradley dunk to retake the lead. The Warriors added another free throw with 37.7 seconds remaining to tie the contest again, this time at 73.
Bradley drew a foul with 15.3 seconds on the clock and after missing the first shot, the junior knocked down the second attempt to give Platte County a 74-73 margin. After Smithville missed a pair of shots from the charity stripe, it ended up rebounding the loose ball and called timeout with three seconds left.
Coming out of the timeout, the ball was inbounded from the corner sideline, but Bradley intercepted the pass and was sent to the free throw line with 1.2 seconds left. The Warriors corralled the long rebound after the junior missed both attempts and Smithville tossed up a 3/4 heave that went off the side of backboard as time expired.
Platte County had four players score in double figures, led by Jace Trimble and Jarett Mueller with 17 points – including three made shots from behind the arc by Mueller and two from Trimble. Bradley finished with 16 points, four rebounds and two steals; Isaac Havemeier ended with 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks; and Fulk had a double-double when the senior had 10 points and 10 rebounds.