SAVANNAH, Mo. — Platte County ended up with a reasonable outcome with an inexperienced roster: plenty of positives with work in progress.
Platte County senior guard Addie Ayers takes a 3-pointer against Savannah on Tuesday at Savannah High School.
Savannah pulled away for a 58-37 victory in Tuesday’s nonconference season-opener at Savannah High School. The Savages hit seven 3s, twice sandwiching a pair at the end of one quarter and the start of the next
Platte County (0-1) returned just one starter with senior Rylee Carr limited to just four points while finding herself in foul trouble from the outset, while fellow senior Addie Ayers scored 13 — just missing her career-high. The Pirates have been consistent during the active run of three straight winning seasons but saw seven players make their varsity debut in a difficult circumstance.
“Savannah kind of got us out of our routine, and we let them dictate what we did offensively and defensively,” said Platte County assistant coach Katlyn Donovan, currently taking on a larger role while head coach Eric Mitchell finishes his duties as defensive coordinator for the football team during a run to Friday’s Class 5 state championship game. “But they’re an experienced team, a good team, and we have a lot inexperience out on the court. There’s nothing wrong with that. Where we’re at right now is not where we’re going to be in February.”
Platte County fell behind early but found some footing with sophomore guard Millie Parker in the first quarter.
Savannah senior Mylee Schrick hit the game’s opening shot from 3-point range, and Platte County trailed 5-0 before Parker banked in a 3. She scored the Pirates’ first four points before Carr tied the score at 5-5 with a split of two free throws.
Platte County freshman Emma Schank makes a pass against Savannah on Tuesday night at Savannah High School.
Parker gave Platte County the lead on the next possession with a baseline jumper, prompting a Savannah timeout.
“I think she gave us a boost of confidence,” Donovan said of Parker, who scored all nine of her points in a first career start in the first quarter. “I thought we started with good energy.”
Platte County led twice in the first quarter, and Parker’s second banked-in 3 — this one from an impossible angle in the left corner — tied the score for the final time at 12-12.
However, Savannah benefitted from a bench technical after Platte County put a player into the game listed with a different number in the scorebook. The Savages took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter when Lillian Musser hit a 3 at the buzzer.
Savannah added another 3 to start the second quarter, and Platte County eventually wilted with inexperienced ballhandlers against a high-intestity pressure defense. The Pirates committed 18 turnovers total.
“Savannah changed our tempo and took away our momentum,” Donovan said.
Ayers, who scored 14 in a game twice as a junior, kept Platte County close before halftime, hitting three 3s, but Savannah continued to answer and led by as much as 13 before the break.
Carr went to the bench with three fouls for the final 5 minutes, 21 seconds of the first half, which ended with Platte County down 35-23. Her three-point play early in the third quarter brought the Pirates within 11 right before she picked up her fourth.
Platte County sophomore Madeline Arthurs takes a shot against Savannah on Tuesday at Savannah High School.
Savannah (1-0) went up 53-31 on a buzzer-beating 3 to end the third quarter in an emphatic answer to two free throws for Ayers with 9.2 seconds on the clock.
“Savannah hit shots,” Donovan said. “They came at wrong time, the wrong place, and we couldn’t battle back from it.”
Carr ranked second for Platte County in scoring each of the past two seasons but now shifts from complementary piece to top offensive threat. She hit one of just four shots from the field for the Pirates in the second half while Ayers went 4-for-5 on free throws.
Both players received an introduction into new roles and expectations this season as by far the most experienced players on the roster.
“That’s exactly what we’re going to need from Addie. She hit some big 3s for us, and she’s doing a nice job of being a leader and helping the younger girls along,” Donovan said. “Any team that looked at us last year knows that Rylee is an attacking offensive player. She likes to get downhill; she likes to get to the rim. They probably planned for that, and Rylee has to keep her fouls in check.”
Platte County played without sophomore Brooklyn Harris and Macy Doll due to injury, freeing up additional playing time for sophomore forward Madeline Arthurs (six points), freshman point guard Emma Schank (three points), senior Emily Huehl (one point) and freshman Clare Stephens (one point).
Schank and Huehl joined Carr, Ayers and Parker in the starting lineup, while junior Maggie Davis and sophomore Delanie Hoefling and Rose Forbes also played late for Platte County. Carr gives the Pirates the most experience, while Ayers served as their top substitute last season and Huehl saw limited playing time as a junior.
Platte County plays next in the Winnetonka Invitational, slated to play at 6 p.m. Monday evening against Park Hill with the rest of the week’s schedule to be determined by the opening result.
