Brittney Gerling’s all-around performance led North Platte to a season-opening win last week. The senior forward finished with six points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks in the Panthers’ 46-31 win against Kansas City Lutheran on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at North Platte High School in Dearborn, Mo. Emmie Lee finished with a team-high 11 points.
Ryan Davis, starting his first year as head coach at North Platte, started out 1-0 ahead of a Tuesday, Dec. 1 scheduled matchup at Lone Jack before the Panthers start the KCI Tournament. The result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline. They open the bracket as the top seed and defending champion against No. 8 Hamilton on Saturday, Dec. 5 in Hamilton, Mo.
North Platte beat Hamilton in last year’s KCI championship game but went 2-1 against the Hornets overall, including a loss in the Class 2 District 16 title game.
North Platte attempted just four free throws against Lutheran but outscored the Knights in all four quarters. Maddie Lee contributed nine points — including the Panthers’ only 3-pointer — to go with seven rebounds, and Kaycee Hodgson added eight points.
Emmie Lee collected five steals, and Maddie Lee finished with four.
West Platte 40, ACC Prep 37
The Bluejays held on late, breaking a third quarter tie to win their opener Tuesday, Nov. 24 at West Platte High School in Weston, Mo.
West Platte went 10-for-15 on free throws with two players doing most of the work on offense. Nealie Niemeier, a sophomore, led the Bluejays with 15 points, while senior Taylor Binkley added eight. In the KCI Tournament, West Platte is the No. 7 seed and opens with second-seeded East Buchanan on Saturday, Dec. 5.
West Platte enters at 1-1 after losing 52-48 on Monday, Nov. 30 at Richmond. The Bluejays trailed 35-25 and couldn’t come back despite a team-high 23 points from freshman Hannah McGivern, who scored just four in the season-opening win. Gretchen Hiatt finished with 11 points.