Stone, Doole find shooting touch from outside in Winnetonka Invitational 3rd-place game victory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Platte County didn’t utilize the expected recipe for wins this season in Friday night’s third-place game of the Winnetonka Invitational’s Gold Division bracket. Although, the Pirates might just have to expect the unexpected with this group.

Bouncing back from a loss the day before, Platte County pulled away for a 46-37 victory over Truman at Winnetonka High School. The Pirates trailed by as many as seven in the first quarter, but junior forward Lauren Stone (team-high 14 points and senior guard Lydia Doole (11 points) combined for seven 3-pointers — every one at a critical juncture in a game where the final score represented the biggest lead for either team.

Platte County continues to build an identity around reliable defense that can generate easier looks on offense in coach Eric Mitchell’s second season, but this outcome included a much-needed breakthrough for the perimeter scorers.

“We know that each night with the group we have it’s probably going to be somebody different,” Mitchell said. “We don’t really have a set scorer we rely on. We just kind of put the ball where it needs to go and hope when those people get the ball that they score.”

Platte County (3-1) didn’t trail after Doole sank a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the second quarter to send the Pirates into the break with a 20-18 lead. Stone’s third of four 3-pointers increased the advantage to 25-20 in the third quarter, matching their largest lead to that point.

However, Truman senior guard Layla Scott, who finished with a game-high 18 points, helped forge ties at 27-27 and 32-32.

Platte County avoided going behind first with a split of two free throws for junior Addy Schlake for her only point and a turnover that led to a layup for junior guard Haley Barlow (seven points). After the Patriots drew level again, Doole beat the third quarter buzzer with her second of three 3s to again provide momentum going into the fourth quarter.

“They’re a gritty group,” Mitchell said. “What I told them in the beginning of the season is that it’s not going to be easy; you’re going to have work extremely hard, and there’s going to be some nights where it’s just not pretty or it’s just not your night. We’ve got to find a way to fight ourselves through nights.”

Truman closed within one point with the first basket of the fourth quarter, but Doole’s hustling offensive rebound under the basket after Schlake saw a good look in the post roll of the rim led to a key second chance. Doole almost immediately kicked out to Stone for a 3 on the right wing to put Platte County ahead 35-34 with 5 minutes, 25 seconds left in regulation. Doole’s final 3 came with 3:52 to go to push the advantage to 41-34, and the Patriots only scored three points the rest of the way.

Nine players factored into Platte County’s impressive scoring total after managing just 21 in Thursday’s semifinal loss to Grandview. The Pirates led after each of the first three quarters in that matchup but managed only three points in the final 8 minutes of a loss that ended their perfect start to the season.

“The other night was one of those nights where we just couldn’t get the ball to go in the basket,” Mitchell said. “We had some good looks, and we just couldn’t make it work. Tonight, the ball went in a little more for us, and that’s how the game plays some times.”

Platte County’s offensive struggles carried over to the first quarter on Friday.

Both teams went scoreless for nearly 3 minutes before Truman broke the combined drought. The Pirates closed within 5-2 on a jumper for freshman reserve Amani Harlin for her only two points before they ultimately fell behind 9-2.

Stone hit 3s at the 1:51 mark and then with 15 seconds left in the first quarter to quickly erase the gap and change the game’s trajectory.

“All these girls are good players, and there’s going to be a point where they’re called upon to hit some shots,” Mitchell said. “Tonight, we had several girls step up and hit key shots at big moments.”

However, Platte County committed turnovers on the first four possessions to start the second quarter while having a chance to take the lead — one on the second shortly after Mitchell spent a timeout to try and organize the offense. The Pirates took their first lead on a 3-pointer and the only basket for sophomore reserve Addie Ayers and a turnover that led to senior guard Delaney Childers’ layup for her only points.

Truman responded with a 9-2 run to take a final lead.

With less than a minute left before the half, Barlow split a pair of free throws, and the Patriots rushed a shot at the other end. That gave enough time for Doole to end up with an open look on the final shot before the break — the 3-pointer that put Platte County up for good.

“I think it gave the girls a good feeling coming in (to the locker room),” Mitchell said.

Schlake, a 6-foot-2 center who emerged as a key starter during the Pirates’ resurgent 18-9 season last winter, struggled to find open touches against Truman junior Julia Schultz but recorded a team-high 13 rebounds and matched dual with three assists. While Schlake’s production dipped, the Pirates received 11 bench points, including four from junior Haley Schank. They also hit 12 of 17 free throws, including a pair for sophomore starting forward Rylee Carr early in the third quarter.

Platte County finished 8 of 17 shooting 3s after making just six total in the first three games of the season.

Grandview 27, Platte County 21

The Pirates shot just 19 percent from the field and 3 of 10 on free throws in Thursday’s semifinal loss at Winnetonka High School.

Grandview trailed 7-6 after the first quarter, 13-11 at halftime and 18-17 going to the fourth quarter. However the Bulldogs scored 10 in the final 8 minutes, while Platte County managed just three field goals total in the second half.

Schlake score seven points to go with 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Stone and (five points) and Doole (three points) each hit a 3-pointer in the first half for Platte County, which limited to Grandview to just three made shots before the break. However, the Bulldogs hit a pair of 3s to stay close.

Platte County went just 1-for-4 on free throws in the first half and then went 2-for-6 from the line in the second half. Childers, Barlow and Harlin scored two points each.

Platte County 45, Oak Park 36

The Pirates advanced to the championship half of the bracket behind to a double-double for Harlin, who posted career-highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds in her second game.

Oak Park trailed 29-18 at halftime and couldn’t draw closer despite holding Platte County to just six points in the third quarter. Harlan scored eight in the fourth quarter to revive the Pirates’ offense.

Stone, Barlow and Schlake scored six points apiece, while Doole added five with one of Platte County’s two 3-pointers. Ayers (three points) hit the other, while Carr and Schank added two points apiece.

Schlake finished with a team-high 12 rebounds, while Stone had three steals.