After three of the Pirates’ starters fouled out, the Platte County boys’ basketball team (18-4) lost its second game of the season to Ruskin (14-10) when the Eagles pulled out a 73-70 win in overtime on Feb. 18.
Platte County’s Brody Fulk, above, was one of three of the players who fouled out in the Pirates’ 73-70 loss against Ruskin in overtime on Feb. 18.
Platte County didn’t have much of a height advantage down the stretch as Isaac Havemeier, Chandavian Bradley and Brody Fulk all fouled out. Judah Vignery, Eli Nelson and Parker Amos came off the bench and filled the roles of the starters late in the game.
Jarett Mueller carried the load late and ended the conference loss with 22 points with four made 3-pointers. Platte County and Ruskin were in a tight first half where the Pirates narrowly held a 32-31 lead when they headed into the locker room.
Ruskin regained a 50-49 margin entering the final quarter of regulation and the contest went into extra time tied at 62 at the end of regulation. Mueller had a potential game-tying 3-point attempt in the closing minutes, but it was no good on what appeared to be contact from the Ruskin defender although there was a no-call by the officials.
Before fouling out, Fulk and Havemeier had an impact with efficient scoring led by Fulk who had 15 points on 70 percent shooting and nine assists. Havemeier made six of his eight attempts and had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, along with five blocks.
Bradley also made an impact on the defensive end with one block and two steals, while grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring eight points. The Pirates have a chance to at least share a title of the Kansas City Suburban Conference Blue Division if they take down Smithville (19-5) on Feb. 22, before closing out the regular season against Belton (12-12) on Feb. 24.