There were times this season when the playoffs might have felt like an overly optimistic goal but never due to a lack of potential.
Platte County junior Wyatt Beeson hits a return shot during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
In an increasingly expected norm for an incrementally more accomplished program, Platte County found the right level of play at the right time, and a 5-1 win over Lebanon in Monday’s Class 2 quarterfinal marked another monumental moment. A lineup with only one returning player from last season swept the doubles matches after both teams made unanticipated adjustments, and single victories for juniors Wyatt Beeson and Jacoby Keith avoided any dramatics.
Platte County (16-9) returns to the state semifinals for a third straight season, adding to an enviable active run of success considering the number of contributors to four straight playoff berths.
“The older I get and the longer I coach, the easier it is to trust that certain things you’re doing as a coach, or specific qualities you see developing in guys are going to ultimately play out in a way that results in them being successful,” Platte County coach Zach Keith said. “That being said, there were multiple moments this season that I thought that we were maybe one year away from reaching that level with this particular group of guys.”
Platte County’s season seemingly turned after a 5-4 loss to Grain Valley, which ultimately secured the Suburban Conference White Division title with that outcome. The Pirates have now won 5 of the past 6, including a run to another Class 2 District 8 title with a tight victory over St. Pius X in the championship dual.
Platte County junior Jacoby Keith hits a forehand during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
Against Grain Valley, Platte County led after doubles but couldn’t earn the needed split of singles to close out the victory. Beeson held multiple match points in the No. 4 match in what ended up a clearly frustrating result for a team enduring the ups and downs of a tough schedule.
Platte County junior Mitchel McBratney played No. 6 singles as a sophomore and moved to the top of the lineup this season with a collection of first-year contributors behind him trying to adapt and develop into a playoff contender.
“I think the Grain Valley loss was the low point,” Zach Keith said. “It wasn’t so much that we lost, but it felt like Grain Valley wanted it more — like it meant more to them. I was really frustrated after that match. The frustrated part of my brain wanted me to lose it on the guys after the match, but when we circled up after the match, I could see and feel the devastation from them.
“There wasn’t apathy, but real sadness and disappointment at how they’d played. They were lost and questioning the path forward.”
Platte County junior Mitchel McBratney hits a backhand during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
Platte County stayed the course, and the payoff came against Lebanon (17-7).
Unbeknownst to each other, both teams deviated from the normal doubles pairings, and Platte County ended up the beneficiary. The Pirates paired McBratney with junior No. 3 Owen Behne, while Jacoby Keith moved up to No. 2 to play with sophomore Jackson Kluck.
Lebanon’s Class 2 District 5 championship duo of senior Conor McGruder and junior Joshua Rogers also split.
McBratney and Behne held on for an 8-5 victory for Platte County at No. 1, while Keith and Kluck dominated at No. 2, beating Rogers and fellow junior Teigan Vance 8-2. The Pirates’ moves were in hopes of possibly stealing two doubles victories but assuring at least one and instead resulted in a 3-0 lead with Beeson and freshman Lincoln Keith also notching a comfortable win at No. 3.
“He told me (the night before), and I actually fully agreed that even having a weaker double plan at 1 would still be better for the team,” McBratney said. “It turns out they did the same thing to us, so it worked out.”
Platte County sophomore Jackson Kluck hits a shot during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
McGruder’s strong service game proved overwhelming in the No. 1 singles match, and he pulled away for a 6-1, 6-1 victory to put Lebanon on the board. The other five matches were all tight in the opening set, but Platte County eventually took a lead in four of them. The Pirates ended up needing to sweep just two to advance.
Jacoby Keith closed out a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 to put Platte County on the brink, and attention turned to Beeson at No. 4 and senior Jack Hokanson at No. 6.
Beeson ended up with a tidy 6-4, 6-3 victory, marking the third third straight postseason dual clinched by his result. He has won six straight singles matches since the loss against Grain Valley.
“It’s really nice to see,” McBratney said. “He got us here, and it was really nice just being able to stand on the No. 4 court, just watching him do his match and pull off two wins in a row that really cemented us going to the final four.”
Notably, Kluck and Hokanson both led their matches that ended up as DNFs in an overall strong showing for Platte County, which completely rebuilt the lineup this season. The Pirates finished as Class 2 state runnerup in 2024, and an experienced core of returners led last year’s fourth-place finish.
Platte County senior Jack Hokanson hits a shot while approaching the net during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
Platte County’s postseason lineup ended up including seven total players with Hokanson playing singles only and Lincoln Keith earning a spot typically alongside older brother Jacoby Keith, an occasional contributor as a sophomore.
After the loss to Grain Valley, Platte County needed to quickly instill the right identity and mindset to become the latest — and probably admittedly the most unexpected — collection of team state qualifiers.
“We spent the next two weeks rebuilding the confidence of the guys and pushing them to believe they belonged in the final four,” Zach Keith said. “”Man, did they show that belief yesterday against a really good Lebanon team. I wholeheartedly believe they would have beat us at any point in the season except for the last two weeks. Our guys have elevated their level of play on the court significantly during that time, and we showed that confidence (against Lebanon). I could literally go down the lineup and recognize what every guy did to make that match a success.”
Up next, Platte County plays Father Tolton Catholic (19-2) in a Class 2 semifinal on Friday, May 22 at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. The matchup on opposite side of the bracket pits Ladue Horton Watkins (14-2) against Warrensburg (14-2).
Platte County junior Owen Behne hits a shot during a singles match in Monday’s Class 2 state quarterfinal win over Lebanon at Platte County High School.
Winners advance to the championship on Saturday, May 23. Last season, Platte County and Warrensburg met in the Class 2 third-place match with the Tigers earning a 5-3 victory.
Regardless of outcome, Platte County’s boys tennis team joins football and boys wrestling as the only programs at the school to win at least three straight team state trophies.
“It feels really, really good,” McBratney said. “I was definitely not expecting it. We played a little rough against (St. Pius X), and I knew we’d come back stronger. Graduated 5 of 6, and we ended up in the same spot as last year. Everyone came through really, really well.”
Up first, Platte County’s doubles teams of McBratney/Kluck and Beeson/Jacoby Keith play in this week’s Class 2 MSHSAA Tennis Championships individual tournament. The Pirates have sent at least one individual entrant in every season since the postseason expanded to three classes in 2021 with multiple bids earned in each of the last five seasons.
This marked the second time Platte County produced both doubles district finalists, previously doing so in 2023, as well. All four will be first-time state qualifiers as individuals.
