Platte County bullies way to 3rd-place finish in Winnetonka Invitational

Platte County needed a response to a loss and an increasingly physical opponent. The Pirates were up to the challenge in a 47-44 victory over Raymore-Peculiar in Friday’s Gold Division third-place game of the Winnetonka Invitational at Winnetonka High School.

A pair of late free throws from senior point guard Haley Barlow provided the final two points and allowed Platte County to improve to 3-1 in a busy start to the season. The Pirates entered off of a loss to Lafayette (St. Joseph) the previous night in a frustrating performance with a short turnaround.

Raymore-Peculiar (1-2) led 18-13 at halftime and forced 20 turnovers in what became a grind for both teams.

Platte County found a scoring groove in the third quarter and back-to-back 3s from senior guard Lauren Stone and sophomore guard Addie Ayers (six points) gave the Pirates a 34-32 lead. The Pirates were still up two in the fourth quarter where the game’s physicality took hold.

By the end, Platte County senior center Addy Schlake (two points and six rebounds) ended up with a bloody nose and scratched face while first-year junior Emily Huehl also left with an apparent head injury.

Raymore-Peculiar eventually led 44-40 with 1 minute, 41 seconds left in regulation. The Panthers didn’t score again, and Stone, who finished with a team-high 16 points, closed the gap with her third 3-pointer. She then added a basket while taking hard contact to give the Pirates the lead for good, although she missed the ensuing free throw on the chance for a three-point play.

Barlow’s free throws with 24.5 seconds left capped a breakout game for the fourth-year starter. She scored a season-high 10, having just one point in the first three games combined, while leading the Pirates in rebounds (eight) and assists (four).

Platte County junior forward Rylee Carr finished in double-figure scoring for the fourth time in four games, finishing with 11. Stone contributed six steals and six rebounds to her scoring production.

Platte County continued to play without sophomore Amani Harlin and again used a nine-player rotation. Ayers put up six points, while senior forward Haley Schank adde two while Huehl and freshman Kinleigh Howren were held scoreless.

A day earlier, Platte County led 22-16 at halftime before struggling through the second half of a second straight regular season loss to Lafayette, which scored 15 points in the third quarter. The Irish shot 16 free throws in the third quarter to take the lead back on the way to a 44-35 victory.

Platte County pulled within 34-30 and 37-32 in the fourth quarter, but Lafayette answered with 3-pointers on both occasions to pull back away. Carr and Ayers led the Pirates with 10 points apiece on an overall off shooting night against a hounding defense.

Overall, Platte County shot just 15 of 51 from the floor (3 of 18 on 3s) and attempted just 10 free throws, making only two. Ayers hit two of the 3-pointers.

Stone (eight) and Schlake (seven) were Platte County’s only other scorers. Carr just missed a double-double with an eight rebounds while Schlake grabbed a team-high 19 and added two blocks.

Barlow didn’t score but dished out six assists.

Platte County opened the tournament Monday night with a convincing 52-28 victory over Central (St. Joseph). Schlake put up a season-high 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to post a double-double, and Stone matched her with 14 points while adding nine boards.

Stone went a perfect 5-for-5 on free throws.

Carr gave Platte County a third double-digit scorer with 11 points, while grabbing five of the Pirates’ 17 steals. Howren received extended minutes with the big lead and scored a career-high seven points in just her second game, while Schank, Ayers and Huehl rounded out the scorers with two each.