With each game being closer than the last one, the West Platte boys’ basketball team (3-0) continues to stay perfect early in the season.
West Platte senior Charlie Kinslow poured out a career-high 26 points while making four of his six shot attempts from deep in the 59-42 win over Northland Christian on Nov. 29.
For the first time since 2013, the Blue Jays have come out on top in their opening three contests as all three have been on the road. After a 22-point win over Stewartsville with Osborn (0-1) on Nov. 21, senior Charlie Kinslow’s career day led West Platte to a 59-42 win over Northland Christian (0-3) on Nov. 29.
Ahead of the matchup with the Trailblazers, the 3-year starter had never scored more than 20 points, but that changed in the second consecutive triumph to start the season. Kinslow poured out a career-high 26 points while making four of his six shot attempts from behind the arc.
Most recently, West Platte was in its most competitive game of the season against Cameron (0-2) that took an extra period of action to determine a winner on Nov. 30. In a tight opening half, the Blue Jays scored the final six points – including a three-quarter court buzzer beater by Xavier Reynolds – to head into the locker room tied at 31.
The Dragons took a 3-point lead entering the final quarter, but the game went into overtime knotted at 61 before the Blue Jays pulled out a 74-72 victory. Since Tyler Funk has taken over the program last season as a head coach, West Platte has now been in four overtime games, posting a 3-1 record in those contests.
Junior Miles McHenry posted a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds along with two blocks and two steals on seven-of-ten shooting from the field. Kinslow finished with 18 points and five assists, while Reynolds had 17 points, two steals and one block.
After losing to Mid-Buchanan in the championship in each of the last two years, West Platte entered the KCI Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed as the host school. The Blue Jays entered the tournament versus fifth-seeded East Buchanan (1-0) – who West Platte has defeated in the last four matchups dating back to early 2021 – on Dec. 7 with a chance to advance to the semifinals against Mid-Buchanan (2-2) on Dec. 9 at 5:45 p.m.