On Jan. 30, 2016, the North Platte Panthers boys basketball team slayed the Mid-Buchanan Dragons to win the North Platte Invitational. Just a day after the 10-year anniversary of the Panthers’ 2016 title, the Panthers finally reclaimed the tournament title. Little did they know it would take a decade of heartache before they returned to that summit.

The Platte County football team will be under new leadership next season for the first time in nearly two decades. On Jan. 29, Platte County head football coach Bill Utz told his team of his intention to step down from his position as head coach of the Pirates. On Feb. 2, the move became official as the Lansing Board of Education approved the hiring of Utz as Lansing High School’s next head football coach.

The Park Hill girls basketball team earned a hard-fought road win against Platte County on Jan. 29, never letting an early lead slip as they won 35-27.

The Park Hill South boys basketball team had four seniors reach double figures as they ran away with a 64-44 Senior Night victory against Liberty on Jan. 27.

North Platte and West Platte wrestlers tested themselves against some familiar competition in the KCI Conference championships. A formidable lineup and a pair of performances from North Platte standouts powered the North Platte/Mid-Buchanan girls to the KCI Conference team championship at the conference wrestling tournament held Jan. 27 in Lawson.

Platte County High School welcomed teams from 15 schools for the 54th annual Platte County Wrestling Invitational at Pirates Fieldhouse on Jan. 23.

On the 11th try, the West Platte boys basketball team finally got its first win against Bishop LeBlond, defeating them 43-41 on Jan. 19.

It was a shaky start for the Park Hill boys basketball team, but they eventually overcame the hostile road environment to defeat Winnetonka 69-49 on Jan. 22.

The West Platte girls basketball team held a narrow lead for most of the night on Jan. 19, closing out a 39-36 non-conference victory against Bishop LeBlond on home court.

The margin never felt safe, and by the time the final relay climbed onto the blocks, the outcome was still very much in doubt. Platte County did just enough to withstand a late surge from Park Hill, edging the Trojans 92-88 in a tightly contested girls swimming dual meet on Jan. 20 at the Park Hill Aquatic Center. The Pirates led wire to wire, but the gap narrowed repeatedly as Park Hill answered nearly every push with one of its own, turning the meet into a tug-of-war that came down to the final event.