Platte County closed the regular season with a pair of promising showings, and now the true test begins.
On Wednesday, Delaney Childers and Lydia Doole were honored on senior night ahead of a memorable 44-21 blowout win over North Kansas City at Pirate Fieldhouse, and two days later, the Pirates came back to force overtime in what ended up a tight road loss at Oak Park. Those two teams finished atop the Suburban Conference Red Division and posted winnings records.
Platte County does enter Class 5 District 8 play off of a loss but already secured the program’s first 20-win season since 2009-10. The Pirates own the top seed and have one final home game — a first round matchup Wednesday evening with winless Kansas City East.
Last season, Platte County’s turnaround season under coach Eric Mitchell ended with a loss to Lincoln Prep in the Class 5 District 8 final. The Pirates won 18 games in 2022-23 and advanced past the opening round for the first time since 2019 and reached the championship game for the first time since 2011.
The last playoff appearance for Platte County came in 2009 when the Pirates won the Class 4 state championship.
Having already secured a share of the Suburban Conference White Division title, Platte County (20-4) put on a dominant performance to upend North Kansas City (19-5) after the senior night festivities despite committing 25 turnovers. Lauren Stone, the Pirates’ junior leading scorer, totaled a team0high 15 points, while junior guard put up 10 — just her fourth game in double-figure scoring this season to go with three steals in a 44-21 triumph.
Platte County recorded 16 steals total — a team-high four for junior center Addy Schlake — in a strong defensive showing.
Coming off the bench, Platte County sophomore forward Rylee Carr added seven points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Schlake put up six points and nine rebounds. Childers and Doole added three points apiece, and Doole recorded a team-high five assists.
Platte County had won five straight going into the regular season finale at Oak Park in a rematch from an Winnetonka Invitational semifinal matchup in the opening week of the season.
Oak Park (16-9) avenged a prior loss despite letting a seven-point halftime lead dissolve. The game eventually went to overtime, and the Lady Oakies emerged with a 62-59 win.
Both teams struggled against defensive pressure with Platte County committing 30 turnovers but also recording 21 steals — six for Barlow, four apiece for Doole and Schlake and three for Childers. The Pirates’ comeback included strong games on offense for Carr (14 points, five rebounds), Stone (14 points, six rebounds and three assists) and Doole (13 points).
Carr and Stone combined to go 14 of 16 on free throws, while Doole hit three 3-pointers. Schlake added a team-high 14 rebounds and four blocks.
Platte County’s best season in more than a decade included a 12-game winning streak and goes into the postseason continuing to rank No. 9 in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 5 poll. The Pirates will more than likely advance to Friday’s semifinals at Kearney Hig School either against Kearney (6-18) or Lincoln Prep (8-7).
Earlier this season, Platte County came back to beat Kearney in a regular season matchup. The Pirates also own wins over second-seeded Smithille (21-4, No. 7 in Class 4) and third-seeded Winnetonka (14-12) — the top contenders on the opposite side of the eight-team bracket.
