Platte County welcomed back a key scorer but likely lost a recently installed starter for the rest of the season in another turbulent week that included a much-needed win of the season outside of tournament play sandwiched between a pair of Suburban Conference White Division losses that looked drastically different. The Pirates still haven’t played any prolonged stretch with a consistent rotation as the start of Class 5 District 8 play approaches.
Platte County junior Jordan Moore takes a 3-pointer against Belton on Tuesday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.
With only one starter back from last year, Platte County (5-19) expected challenges in an almost complete overhaul of the roster, but delayed arrivals, illnesses and injuries have led to additional setbacks and frustrations.
Belton sent the most recent losing skid to six on Tuesday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County junior guard Jordan Moore returned from a one-week absence due to a sprained ankle suffered February 5 against Raytown, scoring 11 points in what turned into a 77-52 blowout loss. He broke out for 25 the next night back at home, while junior guard Jacoby Keith hit three 3-pointers in a 20-point win over Northeast (Kansas City) — the first for the Pirates outside of tournament play this season.
The momentum stalled Friday night with another frustrating loss.
Raytown held on for a 53-50 victory over Platte County in conference play at Raytown High School, keeping the Pirates winless in 12 White Division games this season. However, nine of their 19 losses have been by single digits including a stunning five by one possession and another by just four points.
On Tuesday, Belton (14-10) went more than 3 1/2 minutes without scoring and more than 4 minutes without a field goal to provide a potential opening.
Platte County senior guard Jayden Martin makes a pass against Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County didn’t take advantage and led just 4-0 early. Belton tied the score at 4-4 with a free throw and a 3-pointer to end those droughts and went up 11-9 before the teams went level into the second quarter.
The teams exchanged 3-pointers early in the frame with the first of Moore’s three tying the score for the final time at 14-14. Belton responded with a 7-0 run that only ended after Keith hit another shot from beyond the arc.
Platte County trailed 32-23 at halftime with no free throw attempts, and 5 of 9 made field goals coming on 3-point attempts.
Belton’s combo of junior Caleb Campbell and sophomore Jayce Maiden combined for 40 points, while senior Daymarco Watson added 11 off the bench with three 3s. Platte County struggled at the rim throughout the second meeting between the two teams, and junior reserve Elijah Hockaday’s basket, accounting for his only two points, with 1:58 left in the third quarter provided the last gasp for Platte County.
Coming out of a timeout, Belton went on a lightning quick 12-0 run capped with a layup from Cambell at the buzzer, converting a turnover with 5 seconds on the clock into a backbreaking basket.
Platte County junior guard Andrew Parrish dribbles into the Belton defense Tuesday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County senior Jayden Martin, the lone returning starter on the roster, finished with 10 points while Keith added nine. The encouraging finish included five points for junior reserve point guard Andrew Parrish, while sophomore Brock VanVactor hit a pair of 3-pointers and fellow sophomore Jack Magnuson finished with two points after missing a free throw on and-one opportunity.
Ending the skid the next night, Moore broke out in the second half against Northeast and produced his best scoring total since a win over Fort Osage in the finale of the Grain Valley Invitational. That ended up being the most recent win for Platte County prior to turning a 21-16 halftime lead into a rout against the Vikings.
Keith finished with 19 points, while Hockaday went back into the starting lineup and added 10 to give Platte County three double-digit scorers. Playing a second straight game minus junior Jude Brown, the Pirates were also without Martin, who seemed to have a minor ankle injury in the loss to Belton. Brown injured his foot during a practice earlier in the week and likely won’t play again this season.
Platte County junior forward Brock Dye reaches for a pass against Belton on Tuesday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.
The latest shift in rotations builds on a season-long trend.
Moore and Brown didn’t play until mid-December after helping Platte County’s football team to a second straight undefeated state title. One-off absences for illness and suspension also gave way to Moore’s sprained ankle and Brown’s foot injury and hopefully the minus hiccup for Martin, who returned on Friday. He scored a team-high 17 in the loss to Raytown.
Keith hit two of his five 3s, which accounted for all 15 of his points, in the first quarter against Raytown, but an early lead gave way to a 23-18 halftime deficit. Platte County scored just seven in the second quarter with only one field goal. The Blue Jays did just enough to hold on in a competitive second half with Moore limited to nine points in a impact reserve role this time, Hockaday four, junior forward Brock Dye three and senior reserve Bryton Bertam two.
Platte County drew the No. 6 seed for Class 5 District 8 play and opens March 3 at Winnetonka (13-9). That means the final home game for the Pirates this season will be Friday against Fort Osage after traveling to William Chrisman on Tuesday.
This season, Platte County and Fort Osage (3-19) have split two matchups with the Indians taking the conference tilt 58-54, just three days after a tournament loss by a score of 59-54. William Chrisman (6-18) beat the Pirates 50-47 back in December.
