When Kennedy Townsend scored a transition layup with six seconds remaining to give the Trojan girls’ basketball team a 47-40 lead, the 2-point bucket didn’t only seal the game against Park Hill South – it imprinted the senior’s name into the Park Hill history books.
The victory clinching basket by Townsend gave her 28 points on the night – which amounted to 1,384 points in her career – and she became the all-time leading scorer in program history. The record had been held by Jenny May since 1991.
Park Hill senior Kennedy Townsend (#2) became the Trojans all-time leading scorer after converting on a layup with six seconds remaining to give her 28 points on the night and 1,384 points in her career in Park Hill’s 47-40 victory over Park Hill South on Dec. 20.
Townsend was a key contributor in the Trojans’ 7-point win over the Panthers as the senior scored 17 points in the second half and eight points in the final eight minutes. After a second quarter buzzer beating put-back layup by Park Hill South sophomore Regan Williams tied the contest at 22 heading into the locker room, the third quarter saw four lead changes and one tie.
“We fought the whole game and finally tied it at half, but we had to claw and scratch just to get to that,” Park Hill South head coach Josh Dorr said. “We came out in the second and had a few chances and missed them, but they made theirs.”
The Panthers trailed the entire first half, but they struck first in the third period to take a brief lead and the Trojans trailed 28-25 with 4:27 left in the quarter. Cali Richards knocked down a free throw and a layup, followed by back-to-back treys from Townsend for Park Hill to regain the lead for the rest of the contest.
“Kennedy (Townsend) is a great player and hit a couple of big shots when we lost her. As a result, that makes it a lot easier for them,” Dorr said
Avery Simmons scored six of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, but the Park Hill South sophomore was unable to lead the team all the way back. Simmons narrowed the deficit to six points with 15.3 seconds left before Townsend’s accoladed layup to end the contest.
“I’m just really happy for the kids; we have preached getting better every day and they are buying in,” Park Hill head coach Aaron Neeser said. “We have a long way to go, but I am proud of them for believing each other and getting this win.”
This was the second matchup between the rivals and Park Hill evened up the season series after Park Hill South came out on top 49-46 on Dec. 3. Neither team will play again until the start of the new year as the Panthers will host Oak Park and the Trojans will head to Blue Springs on Jan. 3.