Liberty North dials Park Hill South's number - again

The Park Hill South boys basketball team has played high quality to start the first half of their season, compiling an 8-2 record. However, they have yet to find a winning combo to overcome the tenacity of the Liberty North Eagles who are responsible for the Panthers’ only two losses on the season, both of which have been for tournament titles. The most recent came over the weekend in the championship game of the Cardinal Division at the annual William Jewell Holiday Tournament in a match-up of two talented and physical teams where the Eagles got the best of the Panthers 44-36.

“We need to play games like this. They’re a good competitive team who is battle tested in the state tournament,” Park Hill South coach Rick Zych said. “We have good kids, but have a way to go and need to keep improving. We talk about what our goals are and one of them is to be better in February than we are right now.”

Park Hill South handedly took care of Ray-Pec in the first round of the tournament 52-29 before edging out Blue Springs in a highly competitive semifinal contest 49-44.

In a packed field house resembling a playoff atmosphere, both teams came out of the gate with poised offensive possessions. Liberty North would capitalize on a few key Park Hill South turnovers to earn a 12-5 lead after one quarter. Park Hill South narrowed the lead to a 20-16 score at halftime, but couldn’t get their shots to fall to create any momentum going in the second half going 8-for-28 from the field. Unable to take advantage of a team foul advantage in the fourth quarter, the Panthers struggled down the stretch from the free throw line going 5-for-12.

Down by 14 at one point in the fourth quarter, Park Hill South battled back to within six with under two minutes to play before Liberty North was able to secure the final victory.

Brinkley Jolly, who gave the Panthers trouble in the post all night, led the Eagles with 17 points and was named the Cardinal Division’s most valuable player. Park Hill South’s Anthony Woods, who led the team in scoring with eight points, made the All-Tournament team while Payton Meek was awarded the Hustle Award in the division.

“We’ve played two competitive games against them.” Zych said. “They’re a little more physical than we are right now. Their post player outplayed our posts. He hit some tough shots too, but I was proud of the way we competed.”

Zych says there were a lot of positives to take away from the tournament, but most is important is what lay ahead in the conference schedule, which will lay the groundwork for their ultimate goal, a district title.

“I think with three games on back to back to back days we learned a lot about ourselves and our personalities,” Zych said. “I was telling the guys that the season is a journey. I’ll trade some second place tournament trophies for a district championship.”

Park Hill South plays at Liberty on January 8^th before hosting Staley at home January 11^th.

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Park Hill’s early season struggled continued last week at the William Jewell Holiday Tournament. Drawing a tough match-up in the first round against Rockhurst on Wednesday, the Trojans fell behind early and found themselves in a 40-16 hole at halftime. It was a margin Park Hill would not be able to make up as they eventually fell 70-44. The next morning against Harrisonville, they would give up an early lead as well with the Wildcats taking a 23-16 lead into the locker room at halftime. This time, the Trojans would fire back with a 12-4 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter, gaining a brief 28-27 lead. Harrisonville would have the last say though as Matthew Pringle would rack up 26 points on the Trojans as they edge out a 55-48 win.

Park Hill falls to 2-8 on the year and will next see action January 8^th at Liberty North