Park Hill came into the game an underdog, but jumped out the gate to start the first quarter amassing a 9-2 lead at one point in the before Park Hill South narrowed the margin to a one point deficit at 17-16 going into halftime. While Park Hill came out clearly motivated, this was escalated by their quality start. Just one sign the games between these two teams rarely need inspirational speeches to get the players fired up.
“This isn’t a game where I have to worry about them playing hard. There’s a lot of passion and enthusiasm that comes with this game,” Park Hill Coach David Garrison said.
The second half would see the same rugged and physical play as the first with Park Hill maintaining a slim lead throughout. Despite the early deficit and a third quarter Park Hill run which put the Trojans up by five going into the fourth quarter, Park Hill South was beginning to find a better rhythm and would provide the spectators with quite a finish.
“We finally found some chemistry and moved the ball when we needed it the most with that group we had out there to end the game,” Park Hill South Coach John Sedler said.
When Park Hill South point guard Anthony Woods dribbled down the court with eight seconds remaining down 40-38, he took a similar shot in a similar situation that he had just two weeks ago against North Kansas City, one he made to win the game for the Panthers. Friday though, he was fouled behind the arch, giving Park Hill South’s leading scorer the opportunity at three free throws to potential tie and win the game. Woods would make his first two shots to tie the game at 40 a piece, before missing the third sending the game into overtime.
“He’s improved his free throw shooting a lot. Anthony’s been getting more comfortable there,” Sedler said. “He finished 8 for 12 on the night.”
The first basket of overtime would account for Park Hill South’s first lead of the entire game and it wasn’t a lead they would give up. As the seconds ticked down, overtime seemed like it would end in similar fashion as regulation, but what was an intense rivalry game throughout ended on somewhat of a controversial note.
With six seconds remaining, Park Hill called timeout to inbound the ball under their own basketball down 48-45, but as Park Hill guard Zach Anderson walked off the court, he was called for a technical foul. Few people were aware of the call or what warranted it until play resumed with Park Hill South, not Park Hill, shooting two free throws and gaining possession. Park Hill South would make their free throws to seal the victory at 50-45. Neither coach saw nor could later confirm the reasoning behind the questionable call.
Park Hill South was led in scoring by Woods and his 22 points along with Robert Lane’s 17 points. The Panthers improved to 14-6 on the year after a win against Oak Park 40-37earlier last week. Park Hill was led by ten point performances by Anderson and Connor Farmer. The Trojans fall to 5-11 on the year, but believe the loss won’t prevent them from going into districts playing at their peak.
“This isn’t going to take the air out of us. Our record may not be where we want it to be, but we’re getting to where we want our goal to be which is to be playing our best at district time. Right now, we’re taking the steps to get there,” Garrison said.
Park Hill South has the rest of this week off while Park Hill hosts North Kansas City Friday.
