Both teams look drastically different, and the majority of the players on the floor didn’t have a significant connection to last year’s results.
Platte County senior guard Judah Vignery goes in for a layup against Lafayette (St. Joseph) on Monday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Judah Vignery likely remembered, especially with a gentle reminder. Platte County’s senior guard continued his outrageous start to the season in Monday’s 62-53 victory over Lafayette (St. Joseph), which handily won both meeting between the two teams last season. Vignery poured in a game-high 30 points at Pirate Fieldhouse in another dominant performance.
Platte County improved to 4-1 in a resurgent start to this season with Vignery fueling the improvement. He has scored 30 or more in three straight games and put up at least 23 in every game so far going into this Friday’s road test at Kearney.
“We talked about it. We got walloped by them twice last year,” said Platte County coach Rick Hodge, who led the Pirates to an 8-18 season last year but sits halfway to that win total before Christmas. “But we don’t have a lot of returning players. This group enjoys playing together, and they enjoy playing basketball.”
Lafayette won last year’s regular season meeting by 21 points then upped the margin to 31 in a January matchup in Kearney’s Bulldog Classic. The Irish have advanced to the Class 4 state semifinals last season, finishing third.
Platte County returned only one starter — Vignery — plus senior point guard Connor Currence and junior forward Jaden Peterson with significant experience from 2022-23. Yet, the Pirates have forged an identity around Vignery’s all-around star play and a cast of contributors hitting timely shots to provide support.
Against Lafayette, Platte County seniors Brady Wetzel (eight points) and Isaac Dittrick (six points) hit two 3-pointers apiece, while junior reserve guard Anthony Morrison (eight points) added another. The Pirates only briefly trailed once and held a double-digit lead for much of the second half.
Platte County senior guard Brady Wetzel takes a contested shot against Lafayette (St. Joseph) on Monday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
“I like the poise they are showing for a group of guys that don’t have a lot of varsity experience. You usually don’t see that,” Hodge said. “When our opponents are either increasing pressure or making a little bit of a run, the kids without experience are surprising me with the poise they are showing.”
Seven players for Platte County accounted for for at least two points, and the production from Wetzel, Dittrick and Morrison ended up even more important with Peterson limited to a season-low six — only two in the first half. The Pirates took the early momentum on the first of Wetzel’s 3-pointers, and Vignery added two of his four in what became a quick 11-3 run that prompted a Lafayette timeout. The Irish then responded with an 8-0 run to briefly tie the score at 11-11.
Vignery then hit a pair of long, contested two-point jumpers, and Morrison added three free throws after drawing a foul on a 3-point shot from the top of the key.
Platte County led 18-11 going to the second quarter but then hit a cold stretch while Hodge tried to give Vignery one of his two scheduled short breaks. Dittrick’s first 3-pointer accounted for all of the Pirates’ scoring in the first 6 minutes of the second quarter.
Yet, Lafayette only managed an 11-3 run to go in front 22-21. Vignery answered with a 3-pointer at the 2-minute mark before halftime, and Wetzel hit his second moments later. The Irish needed two late free throws from Antonio Williams to stay within 27-22 at the break.
Vignery had 13 in the first half, but the 3s from Wetzel and Dittrick, Morrison’s free throws and a bucket from Peterson were pivotal to keeping Lafayette behind for the majority of the first 16 minutes.
“When he’s hot, he’s hot, and we have to get him the ball,” Wetzel said of Vignery. “We just make sure that we stay poised and ready to get our shots.”
Platte County senior Connor Currence collects the ball on his way to the basket against Lafayette (St. Joseph) on Monday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Dittrick’s second 3-pointer started the scoring in the third quarter, and Vignery started attacking the rim more as Lafayette attempted to limit his jump shooting. He scored 10 in the third quarter, and Morrison added his 3-pointer as the Irish’s deficit hit 47-33.
Lafayette’s Nelly White hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to close the gap to 11.
Vignery then went to the bench one more time in the fourth quarter after appearing to take contact below the belt from an opposing player on an interaction away from the ball. However, the Irish hit five fouls with 6:16 left in regulation.
Platte County shot 11 of 14 free throws the rest of the way with junior Archie Wesley going 2-for-4 for his only two points and Vignery stepping up to hit 5 of 6 shots from the line. The Pirates also faced heavy full-court defensive pressure late, but Lafayette only managed to close within single digits three times in the final minute, including the at the final buzzer.
Platte County junior Hayden Schultz also finished with two points.
“(Judah)’s playing really well right now in all phases,” Hodge said. “Shoots the 3. When they get up on him, he’s driving it, handles the ball for us. His defense continues to get better, and we rely on him for rebounding on top of that. He’s giving us a lot in a lot of different areas, and we just have to continue to adapt the offense because he draws a lot of attention and he’s going to draw a lot of attention in every game we play.”
Platte County junior forward Jaden Peterson dribbles into space against Lafayette (St. Joseph) on Monday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County has won three straight overall, including two straight and the first two ever in the team’s home venue that opened in January of 2023. The Pirates entered off of the program’s first ever win in Suburban Conference White Division play after Vignery scored 32 in Friday’s victory over William Chrisman.
Dittrick replaced senior Jacob Isaacson in the starting lineup for the game against Lafayette, as Hodge continues to develop the rotations for a roster so far exceeding most expectations.
“(Having) a lot of fun as a team. We’ve got a lot of energy,” Wetzel said.
Platte County 61, William Chrisman 53
Vignery very evenly spread out his game-high 32 points in Friday’s victory at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County went 0-8 in the program’s inaugural season in the White Division but didn’t allow the winless streak to continue. Dittrick and Peterson added eight points apiece, and the Pirates again hit nine total 3-pointers.
Vignery hit five 3s and went 7 of 9 on free throws, while adding four rebounds and three steals.
Dittrick, Morrison (five points), Currence (four rebounds, three assists and three steals) and Wetzel (three assists and three steals) each added a 3-pointer for Platte County, which outscored William Chrisman in each of the first three quarters and then held on late. The Bears relied on junior Leo Gayman (22 points) for the majority of scoring, and he finished with a double-double, adding 13 rebounds. However, they trailed 49-36 going into the final 8 minutes of regulation.
William Chrisman won last year’s two meetings between the teams by a combined seven points — the December matchup by six in double overtime and a one-point escape in early February.
