West Platte dropped its opening round game of the North Platte Invitational on Monday, Jan. 21.

Top-seeded Mid-Buchanan rolled to a 76-26 victory over the Bluejays in the tourney opener. Three scored in double figures for the Dragons — Caly Bailey 21, Brylee Kemper 16 and Kelsey Stout 11. Mid-Buchanan jumped out to a 30-3 lead after the first quarter before a 50-13 halftime advantage.

Lea Moose scored 11 points for West Platte (0-12).

With the loss, the Bluejays moved to the consolation bracket where they’ll play the North Platte-Mound City loser at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. North Platte plays Mound City at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, a day later after a postponement due to weather.

Orrick 47, West Platte 32

Lea Moose registered a game-high 21 points, but the Bluejays suffered couldn’t complete a comeback win on Jan. 18.

Orrick held West Platte to six points in each of the first two quarters. Trailing 36-16 after three quarters, Moose scored nine points and Katie Groom had all six of her points in the final frame. Moose had three 3-pointers.

North Platte 50, Lathrop 34

A sluggish first quarter and half gave the visiting Mules a slim lead, but the Panthers rallied and led the rest of the way in a KCI Conference clash on Thursday, Jan. 17 in Dearborn.

CODY THORN/Citizen photo
North Platte’s Grace Rice grabs a rebound in a game against Lathrop on Thursday, Jan. 17.

Both teams struggled scoring in the game that was moved up a day due to impending weather, as Lathrop nudged ahead 8-5.

The lead grew to 14-5 following a basket but after a timeout by North Platte coach Ryan Davis, the Panthers outscored Lathrop 16-2 over the final 5 minutes, 44 seconds of the first half. Back-to-back buckets by McKenzie Brockhoff, who had a game-high 18, gave North Platte its first lead with 1:30 to play. Josie Roach hit a pair of free throws and Brockhoff’s bucket late made it 21-16 at the break.

Lathrop rallied in the third quarter. A basket by Brooke Huitt pulled the Mules within 30-29 with 1:13 left in the third, but Brockhoff’s basket 7 seconds left gave the Panthers a 32-29 going into the fourth.

Janell Manville, who had 15, made a basket to open the scoring in the fourth and the Panthers defense kept Lathrop off the boards. That helped turn a 37-30 lead into a 46-31 lead thanks to some strong free throw shooting late by North Platte. Manville finished 7-for-9 at the line and was a perfect 4-for-4 over the final 2 minutes.

South Holt 53, West Platte 37

West Platte trailed by only one possession after the first quarter, but South Holt’s 22-point second quarter vaulted the Knights on their way to a non-league victory over the Bluejays on Jan. 14 in Oregon, Mo.

South Holt led 10-7 after the first quarter before taking a 29-21 lead into the break.

The Knights held on to a 42-29 lead after the third quarter.

The Bluejays were led in scoring by Lea Moose, who scored 12 points and made two treys.