Park Hill looks at Oak Park as must win

Park Hill will be faced with what many would consider a must-win game Friday against Oak Park (0-8) after starting district play with a 31-7 loss to Staley last week bringing their overall record to 4-4 on the year. For the Trojans, a win this week will likely give them the ability to control their postseason future going into the final game of the season, a home matchup next week with St. Joe Central. While Oak Park is currently going through an unusual down year having not won a game this season, Coach Greg Reynolds and his Trojans have fought through struggles of their own including injuries and a current stretch where they have lost three of their last four games. Oak Park is coming off a 35-16 loss to St. Joe Central last week.

The Trojans found out first-hand why the Staley Falcons are the top team in the metro and Missouri Class 5 last week. A balanced and steady approach of the run and pass, Staley was held to a field goal in their first scoring drive of the game, but the Falcons’ combination of quarterback Trent Hosick and running back Morgan Steward were too much as Staley eventually amassed a 17-0 lead on the Trojans at halftime. Hosick had rushing touchdowns in each of the first three quarters before the duo connected on what would be the last of which was a four-yard touchdown pass from Hosick to Steward to widen the margin to 31-0 in the fourth quarter.

Staley’s defense held strong against a Park Hill ground game which was only able to produce 78 yards on 38 carries. When the Trojans resorted to the pass, the Falcons brought the pressure as they recorded six sacks on the night. Park Hill was able to put points on the board for the first time in the fourth quarter when quarterback Tyler White found Lane Holmes for a 27 yard touchdown pass, but it was little consolation as Staley maintained their lead the rest of the game for the 31-7 final score. Staley racked up 373 yards of total offense compared to Park Hill’s 132 yards.

The current points standings in Class 5, District 16 are Staley (+13), St. Joe Central (+13), Park Hill (-13), and Oak Park (-13). A win of more than 13 points in the Staley/St. Joe Central game would clinch the district title for that team, creating a battle for runner-up and a playoff spot next week.

Panthers fall in district opener, look to Winnetonka

Park Hill South’s 20-17 loss to North Kansas City last week not only brings their record to 3-5 on the season, but leaves them thirsting even more for a district victory this Friday as the Panthers try to break a four game losing streak against Winnetonka. The Griffins, at 5-3, is coming off a close 28-25 loss to Fort Osage last week, a game in which Winnetonka had the ball deep in Fort Osage territory with less than a minute to play before missing a game-tying field goal.

One of the most frustrating things isn’t just getting beat by the other team, but feeling like you beat yourself. That’s one of the most disappointing parts of Park Hill South’s 20-17 loss to North Kansas City last week. The Panthers received the ball to start the game, but sophomore quarterback Carson Reid’s first pass landed in the arms of a North Kansas City defender who intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown to put the Hornets up 7-0 right off the bad. Like déjà vu all over again, the Panthers received the ensuing kickoff and on their second pass, it was Marcus Jones jumping a Reid pass for an interception. Although, not returned for a touchdown, the pick set up another North Kansas City score putting the Hornets up 13-0 after a missed extra point. The Panthers had put themselves in a tough position early in the game and had trouble regrouping from that point forward.

“The momentum and emotions were way on their side at that point so that was something we were trying to overcome,” coach Mark Simcox said. “You have to give them credit, but we’d like to think that if we win it’s because of what we do and if we lose its also because of what we do.”

North Kansas City was able to add another touchdown before halftime, but the Panthers had battled back having scored a touchdown and field goal to narrow the margin to a 20-9 halftime score. But it was the turnovers that would continue to haunt Park Hill South as Jones would intercept two more passes in the second half to bring his total to three on the night, this time from Panther freshman quarterback Schaefer Schuetz.

“It was something we just couldn’t overcome,” Simcox said. “It wasn’t just the interceptions though because we couldn’t get a stop on defense when we needed to either.”

Park Hill South is looking to combine the return of previously injured key starters in running back Myles Hammonds and linebacker Robert Lane, who recorded an interception against North Kansas City, with some of the small positives they were able to take away from the game.

“We had some success running the ball on offense,” Simcox said. “They didn’t really march up and down the field on us on defense, just made a couple big plays like they needed to.”

For the Panthers it comes down to being able to string together small victories on a play by play basis and not giving opposing teams added advantages against them.

“We’re not good enough right now to the point where we can make penalties or have turnovers and overcome it. We don’t have the big-play ability for that right now.”

While the loss to North Kansas City was an unwelcomed start to district play, the Panthers have two weeks to earn the right to play a third in the state playoffs. Winnetonka and Fort Osage may present tougher obstacles for the Panthers, that adage remains the same going into the last two weeks of the regular season.

“Even before last week we knew that if we won two out of three (in districts), we’re in pretty good shape,” Simcox said. “The teams may be a bigger challenge, but we still have control over what we do.”

Fall Roundup: Oct. 10 - 15

Park Hill Volleyball
…split their pair of regular season matches this week against Kearney and North Kansas City as the Trojans beat lost to Kearney 25-23, 25-11 before coming back at the end of the week and beating North Kansas City 25-13, 25-20. Park Hill went into the weekend with a 10-14 overall record. The Trojans will be seeded fifth in the district tournament starting next week at Park Hill. They will play Oak Park in the first round Monday for the right to take on top seeded Liberty Tuesday.

Park Hill Soccer
..defeated Ruskin last week in conference play 9-0 with Timmy Hay and Brandon Riley adding two goals a piece in the onslaught. Alec Fiest and Chris Walker also contributed with two assists each. The Trojans dropped a tough 1-0 game to a nationally ranked Rockhurst team.

“Despite a 0-1 loss at Rockhurst, it was a good game for us. Players came together in a way they hadn’t in previous games and despite it being a loss, that game could very well be a turning point in our season,” coach Dustin Sollars said.

Park Hill South Soccer
…didn’t allow a goal last week in their two impressive victories against Winnetonka and Raytown last week. The Panthers tallied nine goals against in a 9-0 victory before beating Raytown 5-0 to finish the week. They are now 14-6-1 on the year with Fort Osage and Belton on the schedule as their next two opponents.

Park Hill Tennis
…cruised through team district play two weekends ago, but as the Missouri state tournament began this week knew it would only get tougher in the quality of opponents they would face. The Trojans would triumph though, advancing to the final four of the tournament which will be played Thursday to crown a new state champion. Park Hill easily defeated Lee’s Summit North 5-1 in the sectional round before needing every last point to edge St. Theresa’s Academy 5-4 in the quarterfinals. The Trojans now have Parkway Central (11-4) in the way of a matchup for the Missouri Class 2 state title against the winner of the Columbia Rockbridge/Lafayette semifinal.

Suzanne Barth advanced out of the sectional round of the singles tournament after her 6-1, 6-0 victory last week. Brooke Barnard and Kaylin Lake also advanced in doubles with a 6-3, 6-3 win. All three athletes will compete in their individual state tournament brackets over the weekend.

Park Hill South Tennis
…proved to be a force to be reckoned with their district title win two weeks ago, but were unable to generate the same momentum in the state tournament as they fell to St. Theresa’s in the sectional round by a score of 5-2 ending their team season. Adele Royle and Marie Gehrke, however, will play on in the doubles portion of the state tournament after their 6-1, 6-1 victory in sectionals. They will move on to the bracket portion of the final tournament for the right to play for a state title.

Park Hill and Park Hill South Cross Country
… will both participate in the Class 4, District 8 meet this upcoming weekend at Stocksdale Park in Liberty in hopes of advancing to the sectional meet next weekend at Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit.

Park Hill South Boys Swim & Dive
…is coming off a quality performance at the KC Classic over the weekend. The KC Classic brings together Kansas City’s top competition as well as from Springfield and Columbia. The Panthers have already qualified for state in ten events including Daniel Day, Liam Huff, and Tom Prinslow in the 200 meter free; Day and Huffman in the 200 meter individual medley; Huffman in the 50 meter free; Spencer Moran in diving, Day and Spencer On in the 100 meter fly; Huffman, Day, and On in the 100 meter free; Day, Huffman, and Prinslow in the 500 meter free; Aubrey Churchman, Jacob Fisher, Dan, and Huffman in the 100 meter backstroke; and Jacob Little in the 100 meter breast. Park Hill South also qualified the medley, 200 free, and 400 free relays. They’ll next prepare for the Conference meet to be held in two weeks.

Park Hill Boys Swim & Dive
...is strongly moving along through their regular season. The team has already qualified in three relays for the state meet in November including the 200 medley, 200 freestyle, and 400 freestyle. Senior Matt Johnson has qualified in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Matt Wagner has qualified in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 100 backstroke. Vince Tutorino qualified for the 100 butterfly while freshman Barry Change qualified for the 500 freestyle. As a team, the Trojans have second place finishes at the Park Hill and Red Bird Invitationals along with fourth place finishes in the Independence Invite and last weekend's KC Classic.
 
Park Hill South Volleyball
Improved their record two impressive victories last week before heading into the Truman Tournament over the weekend. The Panthers’ two wins were against Staley 25-10, 25-19 and Raytown South 25-10, 25-11. Park Hill South went 4-2 in pool play of the Truman Tournament, but did not make it onto the winner’s side of the championship bracket as they had in the Winnetonka and Lee’s Summit North tournaments earlier this year. Emma Hagedorn continues to lead South offensively, averaging over ten kills per game. The Panthers have secured a number one seed in the district tournament next week at Truman High School. They will take on the winner of the Fort Osage Truman game in the semi-finals Wednesday night at 5:30pm before hopefully playing for the district title at 7pm.