Offensive inconsistency plagues Platte County in 2 more conference losses

Platte County likely sits at the final crossroads of a thus far unpredictable season. The Pirates must find a way to respond after back-to-back losses at home this week in an increasingly formidable closing stretch.

On Tuesday, Platte County led Grain Valley for much of the first half at Pirate Fieldhouse but lost touch after halftime in a contentious matchup between rivals. The Pirates couldn’t keep pace with Truman two days later in a high-scoring matchup.

At this point, Platte County (9-13) hasn’t won back-to-back games since December and closes the regular season with four more Suburban Conference White Division matchups before Class 5 District 8 play.

Platte County senior forward Jaden Peterson continues to provide consistent scoring punch, but support remains sporadic. The Pirates have reinserted senior guard Anthony Morrison into the starting lineup with occasionally encouraging results, including a team-high 17 points in the 52-40 loss to Grain Valley. He averaged 8.3 per game in a breakout junior season and recently started showing that form again.

However, Platte County junior guard Braiden Stevens has hit a funk in recent weeks after regularly complementing Peterson’s all-around offensive production with high-volume outside shooting.

“We’re still struggling to put it together,” Platte County coach Rick Hodge said. “I have the same vision you do. If we can get (Anthony and Braiden) at the same time producing, I still believe we can be a dangerous team.”

Platte County took a final lead against Grain Valley early in the second half on a quick five-point swing.

Grain Valley coach Andy Herbert drew a technical foul while arguing a non-call, and Pirates junior point guard Jayden Martin hit both resulting free throws for his only two points. Morrison then drilled the third of his four 3-pointers on the ensuing possession to put the Eagles behind 29-28 near the 5-minute mark.

From there, Grain Valley closed on a 14-3 run that gave the Eagles the lead for good.

Grain Valley junior guard Eli Herbert saw his only sustained success during the stretch. He hit three go-ahead free throws after drawing a shooting foul on a shot beyond the arc and closed the run with a 3 from the right wing with 14.7 on the clock.

Herbert averages 25.0 points per game for Grain Valley (12-8, 9-1 White Division) and finished with 12, making 9 of 9 free throw attempts on an otherwise off offensive night.

“Yeah, something did change,” Hodge said simply after the difference following the technical foul.

Platte County junior guard Brennan McLaughlin saw a 3-point attempt rim out at the third quarter buzzer, and Grain Valley’s lead never dipped into single digits again. Morrison converted a three-point play with 3:20 left in regulation and added a late 3-pointer in one of his most complete games of the season.

Peterson totaled 11 points but none in the fourth quarter.

Morrison scored five points in the first quarter against Grain Valley, and a runner along the baseline put Platte County ahead 7-6 with both teams struggling to score early. Herbert’s first points came on a pair of free throws after the Pirates sent him to the line after the fifth foul of the first quarter during the final minute.

“I liked the pace,” Hodge said, “because we’ve been struggling on the defensive end a lot this year. I think tonight the kids took a lot more pride in what they were doing defensively, and I thought the communication was a lot better and the togetherness was a lot better.”

Grain Valley senior Tucker Hughes hit the first of three well-timed 3-pointers to open the second quarter, but McLaughlin and Morrison answered with one each on each of the next two possessions.

Platte County led 13-11 at that point, and Peterson scored five during a 7-0 run that gave the Pirates their biggest advantage of the game at 20-13.

Grain Valley needed up closing the first half on a 9-0 run with Herbert against getting two free throws in the final minute of the second quarter before Hughes beat the buzzer with a 3 from the left wing. He finished with nine points.

Grain Valley senior forward Sam Pendergrass led the Eagles with a steady 15 points.

After the top two scorers, Platte County didn’t have anyone else with more than six. McLaughlin hit two 3-pointers, while Steven and senior Hayden Schultz matched Martin with two apiece.

“I was happy with how we played (Eli Herbert). We just gave up too much to their post player, and then they had some other players step up and hit some shots, too, that helped them,” Hodge said.

Grain Valley swept the White Division season series between the two teams, and Truman did the same with the 79-56 win two days later. The Patriots trailed 20-14 after the first quarter but put up 25 points in the second and 26 in the fourth on the way to a second double-digit victory in two matchups between the two teams this season.

Truman put five players in double figures to drop Platte County to 3-7 in conference play this season.

Peterson scored 31 points, including 16 of Platte County’s 18 points in the fourth quarter. Schultz hit two 3s during the strong start on his way to 12, but Morrison hit an early triple and didn’t score again. The Pirates trailed 40-31 at halftime and scored just seven points in the third quarter.

Platte County’s bench accounted for seven points with junior forward Jack Utz putting up five and Stevens two. Martin also hit a 3-pointer in the third for his only production.

The final stretch of the regular season starts with a road trip to Belton on Monday. Belton (9-13) enters off of upsetting Grain Valley but lost the first meeting with Platte County back in December. The Pirates then host Raytown on Friday before closing the regular season vs. William Chrisman and on the road at Fort Osage.