By Dennis Sharkey / Citizen Staff
The Platte County girls basketball team fought back but fell short in the end in a 60-57 home loss to Benton (St. Joseph) on Monday night, Dec. 16.
The Pirates fell behind early on the Cardinals’ great three-point shooting and trailed by double digits at the end of the first quarter and at halftime.
The Pirates emerged from halftime looking like a different team and began to chip away at the Cardinals’ lead. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Pirates got Benton’s lead down to one possession and tied the game at 51-51 with just over six minutes left but Benton quickly answered with a three to put them back up.
Platte County’s Addie Ayers fired off a three-point shot.
After Benton got a stop and a bucket to go back up two possessions Addie Ayers hit a three-point shot to cut Benton’s lead to two points with just over four minutes left in the game.
With just under two minutes left in the game Platte County finally got its first lead of the game since the opening minute in the first quarter when senior Addy Schlake grabbed an offensive rebound and nailed a putback for a 57-56 lead.
The Pirates got a jump ball with the possession arrow pointed their way on the next trip down the court but the Pirates would give it away and commit a foul on the other end. At this point, Benton was in the bonus shooting one and one and Benton’s player missed the first shot. However, the referees got together after the free throw had been made and decided it was a two-shot foul and Benton was allowed to take two shots. Benton made them both to retake the lead.
With 35 seconds left, Platte County called a timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot but Benton’s defense got a steal and the Pirates were forced to foul.
Platte County’s Rylee Carr drives through two Benton defenders
Benton made both free throws to make it a three-point game with about 20 seconds left. Platte County got a good look from three-point range but senior Lauren Stone’s shot rimmed out and Benton was able to grab the rebound and play keep away for the remaining seconds on the clock.
The loss dropped the Pirates to 4-2 on the young season. The Pirates will be back at home on Thursday to take on Ruskin in a conference match-up.
