Doole’s 3-point barrage lifts Platte County to district title game

Lydia Doole caught the ball on the right wing and didn’t hesitate. Why would she?

On Saturday, Platte County’s junior guard seemingly couldn’t miss from behind the arc, and she didn’t on this particular shot in the third quarter of a Class 5 District 8 semifinal at Pirate Fieldhouse. She buried her fifth and final 3-pointer of the Pirates’ 36-24 victory over St. Teresa’s Academy — the latest chapter in an impressive turnaround story yet to conclude.

The series of timely outside shots helped Platte County overcome early struggles with turnovers and a forgettable team performance at the free throw line (11 of 27). Dole’s final 3-pointer gave the Pirates their biggest lead to that point and a much-needed cushion in a chaotic matchup.

“Not really (thinking about it), just like, ‘Alright hit another one; keep going; keep shooting,'” Doole said.

Coming off the program’s first district win since 2019, Platte County advanced to a title game for the first time since 2011. Incidentally, the Pirates’ 18th win of the season also matches the final record of that team 12 years ago when many of the current players were in elementary school or kindergarten.

Lincoln Prep (16-9) — a 43-34 winner over fourth-seeded Smithville in Saturday’s other semifinal — awaits in Tuesday’s championship game, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Pirate Fieldhouse. Platte County won just 17 games total over the past two seasons and had not posted a winning record since 2019, going 9-16, 9-13 and 8-15 over the past three years.

Under the direction of first-year coach Eric Mitchell, Platte County already surpassed the expectations of most outside of the program, which won just four district games total in the 11 seasons between 2011-2012 and 2021-22.

“We talked about it in (the locker room) that it’s a big deal, and we’ve put in the work for it,” Doole said. “It’s just exciting to get here.”

The No. 3 seed, Platte County (18-8) closed on an 8-0 run and went 5 of 10 on free throws when five straight splits of trips to the line were good enough to create separation.

St. Teresa’s Academy (14-10) made a pair of short shots in the lane midway through the fourth quarter to close within 29-24 but wouldn’t score again. The Stars could not take advantage of a big opportunity when Platte County misfired on a pair of point-blank shots on the very next possession — going to the other end and failing to convert a contested layup.

Platte County sophomore guard Haley Barlow split a pair of free throws, and Mitchell took a timeout with 2 minutes, 53 seconds left in regulation and the Pirates clinging to a six-point adavantage. The final flurry came shortly after with sophomore center Addy Schlake feeding senior forward Joslyn Hupp for a bucket in the post, and senior forward Reese Pickett’s up-and-under leaner in the lane on a transition opportunity pushed the advantage to 35-24 with 1:12 on the clock.

All season, Mitchell preached the importance of a defensive identity to help Platte County overcome occasional struggles to consistently score. The Pirates have now held the last four opponents to under 30 points, and the players have to admit — even if begrudgingly — he’s been right all along.

“Definitely right. Defense wins games,” Doole said with a smirk.

Without Doole, Platte County could have been an untenable position by halftime.

Both teams were employing high pressure defenses early, leading to high-paced and erratic offensive possessions on both ends of the floor. Doole hit an early 3-pointer to put Platte County up 3-2, and a layup from Hupp, who finished with six points, made it 5-4. Yet, the Pirates needed a second 3 from Doole to lead 8-6 going to the second quarter.

Second-seeded St. Teresa’s continued to hang around with Platte County going just 2-for-10 on free throws in the first half. Doole knocked down a third 3-pointer near the midway point of the second quarter to again give the Pirates a slim lead at 12-10. They had only a split of free throws for Hupp in the final 3:54 of the first half, and the Stars went into the break up 15-13 on a late 3 from junior guard Elaina Lobaugh.

“I’m never too worried about being down at half,” Doole said. “We’ve done it many times and come back.”

Doole hit her fourth 3 for the first points of the third quarter, and Platte County would not trail again. Barlow, who matched Hupp with six points, then converted a turnover into a three-point play after dropping in a layup while taking heavy contact to earn the resulting free throw.

St. Teresa’s didn’t have a field goal for the entirety of the third quarter, struggling against the Pirates’ trapping defense. The Stars were out of sorts throughout the second half and air balled four 3-pointers, while also going only 5 of 10 on free throws in a foul-filled final 16 minutes.

Mitchell slowly integrated the trapping looks until being able to fully deploy them late in the season, and Platte County relentlessly hounded St. Teresa’s after seeing the effectiveness of the pressure early. The Stars were unable to counter due to struggles with open 3-point looks.

“We’ve been working on that a lot in practice, so obviously, it’s been helping,” Doole said.

Platte County led 27-20 after scoring more in the third quarter (14) than they did in the first two combined (13). Pirates sophomore reserve guard Lauren Stone scored four of her five in the third, and Doole’s final 3 helped stretch the advantage to 29-20.

However, Platte County didn’t have a field goal in the fourth quarter until the baskets from Pickett and Hupp late. The Pirates ended up with a double-digit win despite slow nights for Pickett and Schlake — just two points apiece for the second- and third-leading scorers on the season coming into the game.

In a change of pace from recent seasons, Platte County simply found the right combination. The Pirates have their most wins in a season since 2011 and now have a chance to reach the playoffs for the first time since winning the Class 4 state championship in 2009.

“The energy is really nice,” Doole said. “We’re all building each other up, like if someone makes a mistake, it’s alright. We’re seeing that winning is fun. We’re building up a new foundation.”

Platte County 39, Winnetonka 29

Schlake finished with a game-high 11 points, and Stone keyed a surge right before halftime that lifted the Pirates to their first district win in four years.

Doole also contributed a key 3-pointer Thursday at Pirate Fieldhouse with Winnetonka falling behind 25-14 midway through the third quarter. The Griffins held Platte County without points for more than 3 minutes coming out of halftime and trimmed a 10-point deficit to eight.

The 11-point lead was the biggest to that point, but Winnetonka answered with a 3 to stay within striking distance.

Pickett buried a deep jumper for two at the third quarter buzzer to send Platte County into the final 8 minutes with a 32-23 advantage. Winnetonka went more than 4 minutes scoreless, as the lead swelled to 38-23 late.

Platte County pulled a season-sweep of Winnetonka, building on a 14-point win over the Griffins in the regular season. Only six players scored for the Pirates with Hupp (six), Barlow (five), Doole (five) and Pickett (four) rounding out a balanced effort.

But Schlake again proved a difference maker having gone from a strategically used substitute with no varsity experience early in the season to occasional focal point as the starting center.

“Just hustling and having good effort,” Schlake said of the keys to her development. “Even if things don’t go your way, keep going and the baskets will fall eventually. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the season, I would’ve not thought I’d be here, like starting at districts. It’s been a lot, but it’s been so much. And I love all the support from all the teammates.”

Again slow to start, Schlake provided the spark. She scored six early to help push Platte County to an 8-2 lead, but the Pirates were in danger of not doing enough during Minnetonka’s initial cold stretch. The Griffins’ first of just two 3s closed them within 12-10 near the 3-minute mark of the third quarter.

Platte County shot just 34.8 percent from the floor, went 6 of 21 on free throws and hit only one 3, but 14 offensive rebounds helped to offset the shooting woes and 17 turnovers. The Pirates pulled away for good with Stone scoring six straight late in the second quarter, and Pickett followed with a layup.

Hupp’s basket that led to a three-point play opportunity made it a 10-2 run, and although she missed the free throw, Platte County went into halftime up 22-12. Stone continued to provide an occasionally important jolt since moving into a reserve role after a right-ankle injury forced her to miss time, which included the win over Winnetonka.

“Lauren has been a great scorer for us,” Schlake said. “She can knock down the baskets when we need them and dig us out of a hole when we need her to.”

Doole’s 3-pointer was the only one on the night for Platte County and provided just enough offense during a slow stretch. She also finished with six rebounds and six steals, while Pickett added three steals in another staunch defensive effort. Hupp finished with a team-high eight rebounds plus four assists, while Schlake added seven.

Winnetonka scored just six points in the fourth quarter, and all were in the closing minutes on a pair of 3s for Regan Harvey, who totaled eight points. La’Nicia Parker led the Griffins with 11 points, which included a pair of 3s — one in each half.