Platte County turned a pair of earlier close losses into wins in Suburban Conference Blue Division play last week.
The Pirates, who dropped 1-point games to Kearney and Winnetonka in the first of their double-round-robin conference season, turned the earlier setbacks into comfortable wins entering the final week of the conference season.
Platte County bested Kearney 59-51 on Tuesday, Feb. 13 before claiming a 61-54 win at Winnetonka on Friday, Feb. 17.
BRYCE MERENESS/Citizen photo
Platte County sophomore Darren Wilson goes up for a layup in the Pirates’ 59-51 win against Kearney on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Platte County High School.
On Friday, the Pirates erased a 26-24 halftime-deficit with a 25-point outburst in the fourth quarter to take control of the game. Senior Deiondre Ragsdale led all scorers with a game-high 21 points including a team-high four steals. Ethan Esdohr (13) and Lucas Stanley (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Pirates.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13 Stanley notched a double-double in the Pirates win over Kearney. The Pirates main inside threat scored a game-high 17 points and coupled it with 12 rebounds.
Stanley went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and the Pirates hit six 3s in total. Ragsdale hit two of the long-range shots and Darren Wilson, who finished with 13 points, had the other.
Ragsdale finished with 14 points including a rolled-in shot at the third-quarter buzzer to give the Pirates a 46-25 lead entering the final frame. Kearney then outscored Platte County 26-13 in the final 8 minutes to bring the game back within single digits.
Lee’s Summit West 62
Park Hill 39
The Titans swept the Suburban Conference Gold meetings between the schools after a win on Friday, Feb. 16. Overall the Trojans went 1-2 vs. the No. 4 team in the latest Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 5 poll. Park Hill took the first matchup 58-39 to claim the C.W. Stessman Invitational at Liberty High School in January.
Park Hill was outscored in all four quarters and no player score more than eight points (C.J. Lee and Ronnie Bell). Willy Majok (seven), Ryan Graves and Nic Zeil (six each) rounded out the offense.
Park Hill 62
Blue Springs South 57
Ronnie Bell sparked a come-from-behind win against the Jaguars in the fourth quarter of Park Hill’s win on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Bell scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the final eight minutes to flip a 47-44 deficit to a 62-57 win.
The Trojans led early and held a 15-12 advantage after the first quarter. However the Jaguars held the lead at the half after an 18-point outburst in the second quarter.
Bell came alive in the second half with 16 points and senior Willy Majok finished with 15 points.