Starting the season with a victory with both basketball programs is the most ideal way to begin a season and that’s exactly what West Platte did, sweeping Osborn with Stewartsville in a dominating fashion on Nov. 21.
Coming off their best season in nearly a decade, the West Platte boys (1-0) came out with a 48-26 victory to give the Blue Jays their first season opening win since 2013. Setting the tone for the long season that lies ahead, the Lady Blue Jays (1-0) hit the road and came out with a comfortable 51-24 win over Osborn with Stewartsville (0-1) to start the winter off right.
West Platte senior Madisyn Matlick helped lead the Lady Blue Jays to a 51-24 season opening win against Osborn with Stewartsville on Nov. 21.
This is the second straight season – and third time in head coach John Kruse’s fourth year at West Platte – that the Lady Blue Jays started the winter with a victory. Coming off its best season of the 21st century, West Platte continued the strong level of play with good defense and efficient offense in the season opener against the WildCards.
Osborn with Stewartsville was held to only four points in each of the first three quarters as the road team took a lead early and never looked back. West Platte went up 12-4 after the opening frame, increased the margin to 20-8 at the break and then poured out 19 third quarter points to go up 39-12 ahead of the final quarter.
In her high school debut, freshman Blair McHenry didn’t miss a shot – converting on all six of her field goal attempts – to score a team-high 12 points, along with two rebounds. Junior floor general Julia Pattison scored 10 points, snagged eight rebounds and dished out three assists, while sophomore Sam Baker matched the point guard’s point total, along with snatching three steals and blocking one shot.
The Lady Blue Jays forced a ton of turnovers, with Pattison, Avery Holmes and Madisyn Matlick coming away with five steals apiece, while senior Colby Shepardson had four steals and one block. Matlick knocked down West Platte’s only two shots from behind the arc on the night to finish with nine points.
For the boys, it was relatively tight early before the Blue Jays outscored the WildCards 12 to three in the second quarter to take a 24-7 advantage. West Platte entered the final quarter with a 22-point lead and cruised to a victory.
Miles McHenry and Ezra Stigman led the way with 12 points each in their first career starts, while Xavier Reynolds added 11 points. Charlie Kinslow ended with eight points and Cohen Kite added five points.
With Thanksgiving break putting a short stint in the season schedule, the Jays will have a short break before heading to Northland Christian on Nov. 29 and taking on North Andrew in the home opener on Dec. 12. West Platte will host the KCI Conference Tournament, which starts on Dec. 5.