North Platte stormed into the Class 2 District 16 semifinals with a 53-15 win against host Albany on Monday, Feb. 23 at Albany High School. The top-seeded Panthers limited Albany to just one point in the first quarter and were up 32-9 at halftime. Chelsi Sams led all scorers with 13 and was the only player from either team to reach double figures.
North Platte plays again at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 against fifth-seeded Polo (20-6), a 60-59 winner in its first-round game against Gallatin. The winner advances to the championship game set for Friday, Feb. 27.
Hamilton and Maysville play in the other semifinal on Wednesday night.
North Platte, ranked No. 4 in the most recent Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll, will be looking to make the playoffs for a sixth straight season. Sectionals will be held Wednesday, March 4 at Staley High School in Kansas City, Mo.
North Platte 62, Mid-Buchanan 25
The Panthers won their second straight KCI Conference title and fourth in five years on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Erin Manville led the way with 15 points, and Sams added 13 in another balanced effort. Mid-Buchanan managed only 10 points in the second half and faced a running clock late.
North Platte went 7-0 in KCI play.
North Platte 53, Wellington-Napoleon 38
The Panthers pulled away late Thursday, Feb. 19 in a potential playoff preview between the top seeds in Districts 15 and 16. Courtney Kipping hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 12 points, while Baylie Wilson added nine.
Orrick 46, West Platte 43
The Bluejays’ season came to an end with a loss in the Class 2 District 15 opening round on Monday, Feb. 23 at Wellington-Napoleon High School in Wellington, Mo.
West Platte finished 8-15 after losing for the second time this season to the Bearcats, who won the regular season meeting 34-33 on Dec. 2. Karen Knox led the Bluejays with 16 points, while Mattie Vandel — their lone senior — added 12 in her final game.
According to Missouri State High School Activities Association records, West Platte had not won eight games dating back to at least 2008.
Hamilton 50, West Platte 25
The Bluejays finished 1-6 in KCI play, losing their second straight to close the league slate on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Morgan Prather scored a game-high 19 points for Hamilton, which led 23-12 at halftime. West Platte managed just four points in both the first and third quarters, and nine in the fourth marked the best production for any quarter.
Nine players scored for West Platte, but Nealie Niemeier led the way with just seven.
West Platte went on to close the regular season with a 49-33 win against University Academy on Thursday, Feb. 19, breaking the Bluejays’ two-game losing streak.