Back to mostly full strength, Platte County improved to 2-0 in Suburban Conference Blue Division play with a 45-32 win Monday, Jan. 25 at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Mo.
The Pirates were coming off a fourth-place finish in the Oak Park Invitational, losing two starters to injury during play with two others missing significant time. Jaycie Stubbs (11 points), Rachel Holden (eight) and Rocky Chambers (eight) were all back in the lineup after missing most or all of the third-place game loss to Park Hill South three days earlier.
Holden suffered a broken nose in an Oak Park Invitational semifinal loss to Smithville. She didn’t score in that game after leaving with the injury, and she didn’t play Friday.
A senior committed to Rockhurst University, Holden has suffered through a difficult senior season. She entered as the top returning scorer and rebounder for Platte County from last year’s 8-16 campaign. Holden missed about a month with a broken bone in her foot and had only recently returned before suffering the broken nose.
“Second injury. I talked to her. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Platte County coach Chris Stubbs said. “It is what it is. She’s handling it the best that she can.”
The win against Winnetonka pushed Platte County’s record to 8-6, already equaling last year’s win total. Jaycie Stubbs hit three of the Pirates’ five 3-pointers. Lindsey Bogart, a senior guard and the fifth starter, added another and ended up with seven points.
Platte County hosts Kearney on Thursday, Jan. 28 with the Bulldogs entering off of a Blue Division loss to Grandview on Monday night.
Park Hill South 57 Ruskin 38
Alecia Westbrook put up one of her most ridiculous stat lines so far this season in the Panthers’ win Monday, Jan. 25 in Kansas City, Mo.
A freshman standout, Westbrook scored 14 points to go with 10 rebounds, nine blocks, eight steals and five assists. All stats were team-highs as Park Hill South turned a 22-21 halftime lead into a blowout by outscoring the Eagles 14-2 in the third quarter.
Park Hill South didn’t trail in the second half despite allowing Ruskin to shoot 29 free throws. Raquel Reid, a sophomore guard, joined Westbrook in double-figure scoring with 10 points, while Mayleigh Oder and Dymeria Guillory added seven apiece. The Panthers recorded an assist on 18 of 23 made field goals, including three for Guillory.
Park Hill South improved to 1-2 in the Suburban Conference Red Division play ahead of a Thursday, Jan. 28 home game vs. Truman.