Platte County’s two-game winning streak came to a screeching halt during a road trip Monday, Dec. 18.
Grain Valley started fast in each half and pulled away to a 66-39 win over the Pirates in Grain Valley, Mo. The Eagles scored 44 points combined in the first and third quarters of the nonconference matchup.
Platte County dropped to 4-3 overall entering a Tuesday, Dec. 19 matchup with Fort Osage (result not available) with a lengthy holiday break looming. The Pirates continued to adjust to a major roster shakeup in the loss.
Coming off wins over Benton and Smithville, Platte County put senior Deiondre Ragsdale back in the lineup after he missed time on vacation. He scored a team-high 13 points, while senior forward Lucas Stanley posted double-digit scoring for a fourth straight game, this time finishing with 12.
Platte County 68, Benton 58
The Pirates won a second straight behind another big game for Stanley on Friday, Dec. 15 at Platte County High School.
Playing without two top scorers, Platte County built a big halftime lead and held on for a 68-58 win. Stanley put up a game-high 24 points and hit a pair of 3s, while senior guard Nathen Mair had a career-high 16.
Ethan Esdohr, a junior reserve much of the season, stepped up with 14 points, including two 3s, for Platte County. The two straight wins came after senior Kobe Cummings left the team to pursue recruiting in football and baseball, while Ragsdale was gone on vacation.
Platte County 62, Smithville 57, OT
The Pirates saw a second half lead slip away but came back for the win behind free throws in overtime Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Platte County High School.
Up 30-16 at halftime, Platte County eventually fell behind 57-55 after Smithville hit a pair of free throws on a blocking foul called against Stanley. Mair came back down the floor and drove to the rim for a tying layup.
Smithville’s contested 3 attempt at the buzzer missed.
In overtime, Platte County made 10 free throws to account for all of its points scored in the extra period. Stanley finished with 17 points, including a pair of 3s, while senior guard JP Post scored a season-high 13.
Mair, Uzael Abraham and senior forward John Watts all added eight.