The Platte County boys basketball team put to bed a nine-game losing streak with back-to-back Suburban Blue Conference victories last week in Platte City.
But the league home wins certainly didn’t come easily, as both were decided by three points or less.
Platte County 47, Smithville 44
With the Pirates trailing by a single point, Brady Wright connected from deep to give back Platte County the lead, a 45-43 advantage with under a minute to play.
The Pirates closed out the victory with a defensive stop, and Dawson Wood and Dylan Gilbert both going 1-for-2 from the free throw line, officially putting an end to a nagging losing streak on Monday, Jan. 14.
Wood, a senior guard, led the Pirates (4-9) with a 16-point effort, connecting on four 3-pointers, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists. Gilbert added 12 points.
Smithville (3-11) was ahead in the first half, as the visitors led 12-6 after the first quarter and 23-17 at halftime.
But Platte County changed the tone in the second half, cutting the lead to one — 31-30 — through three quarters before the Pirates put together a 17-13 final frame for the victory.
Platte County 57, Kearney 55
Three Pirates scored in double figures as Platte County edged Kearney (7-8) at home on Thursday, Jan. 17.
The Pirates notched the win by holding off a Kearney comeback attempt. Platte County led 12-6 after the first quarter and 28-18 at halftime, but the Bulldogs cut the lead to 35-34 headed into the fourth quarter, which the Pirates successfully held on with a 22-21 frame.
Wood once again led the Pirates with 17 points, three triples and three assists. Wright added 15 points, and Dylan Minshall chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds in a rematch of last year’s district finals that Kearney won.
Grain Valley Invitational
Platte County opened the Grain Valley Invitational on Tuesday night against Fort Osage with a 50-36.
The Indians are the No. 1 seed in the field. Stats from that game wasn’t available by press time.
Next up for the Pirates is a showdown with Pleasant Hill on Thursday at 4 p.m. The winner of that moves onto the consolation game on Saturday, at 11 a.m. The loser will be eliminated from the seven-team field.