Platte County’s leads evaporate in frustrating conference loss

Ruskin junior forward Mark Jones threw down an emphatic dunk and then let an even more energetic celebratory yell as the final buzzer sounded on a 57-50 comeback victory Friday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.

Platte County players were left to dejectedly untuck — and in some cases, remove — jerseys before walking off the court after a second straight loss. The Pirates saw double-digit leads dissolve in each half of a game that featured dramatic swings in momentum from start to finish, yet continued to show the progress and potential for a roster with senior forward Jaden Peterson the only full-time returning starter.

Entering with a chance to continue a strong start in Suburban Conference White Division play, Platte County led by 11 in the first half and as many as 16 in the third quarter with Peterson’s 22 points hitting right at his impressive season-average for scoring. The Pirates also received timely and important contributions from almost every member of the current rotation but showed glimpses of inexperience and lack of continuity for a group in process for building an identity.

Peterson put up 12 points in a dominant third quarter for Platte County (4-4, 2-2 White Division), which entered off of a loss to Kirksivlle in the 12 Courts of Christmas event on New Year’s Eve. Most importantly, he remained at just three personal fouls while the Pirates went on an 11-0 run out of halftime and eventually ballooned the lead to 39-23 on his corner 3-pointer.

Ruskin (4-4, 1-0 White Division), part of an expanded and deeper conference, endured the second prolonged scoring drought of the game and then scored the seven of the final points of the third quarter to close the deficit to 11.

The momentum carried into the remainder of regulation.

Ruskin scored the first 12 of the fourth quarter to take the lead back for the first time since midway through the first half. Platte County junior guard Braiden Stevens, who finished with 12 points, put the Pirates ahead for the final time at 43-42 with a runner near the left elbow to finally end the lengthy scoring drought.

Coming right back, Ruskin sophomore forward DaMarcus Charles created a chance at a three-point play at the other end but missed the free throw.

Platte County missed two shots at the other end and then took another timeout with 3:54 left in regulation down 46-43. Peterson’s final 3 a little over a minute later gave the Pirates a lifeline, and junior point guard Jayden Martin split two free throws with 1:54 on the clock.

However, Ruskin ended up scoring 27 points in the fourth quarter, and Platte County junior guard Brennan McLaughlin’s corner 3 out of a timeout at the 1:25 mark ended up being the Pirates’ final points. The Eagles scored five more in the remainder, capped with Jones’ dunk as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Ruskin pulled away despite shooting just 2 of 18 on 3-pointers with 18 offensive rebounds creating critical extra opportunities. Jones led the Eagles with 18 points, while senior guard Seth Brown (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Charles (11 points, 12 rebounds) both added double-doubles.

Both teams started slow on offense during an innocuous first quarter.

Peterson scored Platte County’s first points after the Pirates trailed 5-0, and Stevens hit a pair of 3s to help create a tie at 10-10. Ruskin took a timeout inside the final minute to try and regroup, but Stevens ended up at the free throw line with 12.3 seconds left and missed the first attempt and saw the second erased by a lane violation.

Ruskin went into the second quarter still tied after missing two good looks near the buzzer.

Martin, a first-year starter showing glimpses of scoring prowess who finished with six points, hit a 3 at the 7:03 mark of the second quarter to give Platte County its first lead at 13-12. That ended up starting a 13-0 run with Ruskin going scoreless for more than 4 minutes.

McLaughlin, who finished with six points, extended the lead to 16-12 with another 3, and senior reserve guard Brett Mueller’s lone basket — a contested layup after out hustling the Eagles to a loose ball near midcourt and then immediately converting the turnover into offense — provided additional energy. Teammates assisted on Peterson’s next two layups, which resulted in a 23-12 lead with just more than 3 minutes left in the first half.

Platte County didn’t score again before the break, and Ruskin closed on a 9-0 run while Peterson went to the bench after picking up his third foul.

Out of the break, Peterson scored the first four and final two points of the initial 10 unanswered points for Platte County to start the second half. His production was sandwiched around layups for Stevens and senior forward Hayden Schultz, who finished with four points. The Pirates appeared in control once the lead hit 16 points, but turnovers, a rebounding disadvantage and some rushed shots in the closing sequence combined to provide an opening.

Platte County plays at Pembroke Hill (3-5) Tuesday in a matchup affecting Class 5 District 8 seeding before returning to conference play on the road against Truman (5-6) on Friday. The Pirates do not return home until January 23 against Smithville.

Kirksville 64, Platte County 52

The Tigers hit 11 total 3-pointers to pull away in a January 31 matchup at Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City as part of the week-long 12 Courts of Christmas showcase.

Peterson scored a game-high 27 points for Platte County and added 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. Kirksville countered with 26 points from Cole Kelley, who hit six 3s. The Tigers trailed 28-27 at halftime but took the lead for good shortly after the break.

Platte County scored just seven points total in the third quarter — five from Stevens, who finished with eight points. No one else contributed more than five total for the Pirates.

Martin put up five to go with four rebounds while tying with Stevens for the team-high in assists with three. McLaughlin added four points and four boards, while Mueller, Schultz, senior guard Anthony Morrison and senior forward Cobe Pollard all finished with two points.

Platte County entered off of a 72-50 win over William Chrisman on December 20 with Peterson scoring 25. Schultz added a career-high 16 points, while Stevens hit three 3s and gave the Pirates a third in double-digits with 13.

The season-high in points for Platte County included 15 of 19 shooting on free throws with McLaughlin going a perfect 4-for-4. He put up six points, while Mueller added five and Martin three. The Pirates also went deep into the bench with sophomores Jordan Moore and Elijah Hockaday scoring their first career points, finishing with two each.