Platte County’s girls basketball team came within a couple of buckets of a first district championship in 16 years last season.
After graduating some integral players, including Lauren Stone (leading scorer), Addy Schlake (leading rebounder) and Haley Barlow (leading assister), the Pirates hope some in-season development can lead them back to push for the district title.
“We are young and inexperienced at the varsity level,” Platte County head coach Eric Mitchell said. “We are trying to build the team up so they are playing their best basketball at the end of the season.”
Entering his fourth and final season at the helm, Mitchell returns the same coaching staff that has been with him the entire time. They will look to returning varsity contributors Rylee Carr and Addie Ayers to lead the way.
“We are leaning on both of those players to help lead the younger players,” Mitchell said of the senior duo. “They are a big part of what we are doing as a team.”
Carr, who was the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder last season, will carry the bulk of the offensive load in her third year as a major contributor. Ayers enters her fourth season with the varsity squad and is capable of shooting from deep.
Outside the top two returning leaders, a cast of fresh faces will need to contribute for the team to find the success it wants. Sophomores Madeline Arthers and Millie Parker join junior Macy Doll as important rebounders.
The Pirates have set themselves up with some tough early-season contests, facing Class 6 competition six times before heading into a stretch of conference-centric fixtures.
“They are learning to play hard,” Mitchell said about his team. “If we can continue to improve on that aspect, it will become a strength for us. If we learn to play hard and compete, the coaching staff would be happy.”
Platte County opens January with a six-game homestand, which concludes with a matchup against William Chrisman on Jan. 22. The Pirates also look forward to a road test against rival Smithville on Jan. 26, which opens up a challenging conclusion to the season with seven of their final nine contests on the road.