Park Hill and Platte County get physical

The Lady Trojans (5-2) and Lady Pirates (7-1) start their Christmas break this week as their next games won’t be until January 4th against Belton and Grandview. It doesn’t mean they won’t be working hard though as the break will provide for some important practice time to sharpen up on certain things as they head into the bulk of their season.

For Park Hill, one key will be decreasing the amount of turnovers they give up. It has been one area holding the Trojans back early this season and was a factor again last Friday as they played defending state champion Platte County.

“I think it’s more mental because we’re getting more pressure put on us. They’re unforced and uncharacteristic turnovers,” Coach Brian Rockers said. “It’s going to be one our focuses over break.”

The Pirates visited the Trojans in a battle of two bordering school districts. Park Hill came swinging out of the gate to gain a 13-9 lead with the help of three-pointers from Laura Bennett (2) and Michele Rupard over the Pirates’ zone defense. Bennett led all Trojan scorers with 14 for the game. Platte County was able to close the gap to 17-15 going into the 2nd quarter with a steady dose of close range jump shots.

Shortly after the start of the second quarter, the Pirates sparked their momentum when Kelsey Knox dove into her own bench in a successful effort to deflect a ball over a Trojan defending out of bounds. Platte County took their first lead of the game shortly after at 21-17 as the game speed picked up. The Pirates went into halftime with a 28-27 lead. Once again, Platte County came out of the break with momentum taking a 35-27 lead midway through the third quarter. Both teams displayed defensive intensity throughout the game, but outstanding performances from Lady Pirate Taylor Johnson with 30 points and Kelsey Knox with 17 points was too much for the Trojans as they were only able to come within three points late in the fourth quarter before falling 60-52.

It was an unusually physical game, but even this early in the season, when two teams with high expectations meet against each other the stakes are higher.

“It was just two teams getting after each other,” Rockers said of the physical play. “We aren’t necessarily a real physical team, but our girls didn’t back down.”

It was the second loss in a row for Park Hill as they lost to Truman last Thursday 40-31, in a game that could mean something in the conference standings the next time they meet.

“We played catch up the whole game, but if we played the way we did tonight (vs. Platte County) then we could have taken care of business,” Rockers said. “Our conference race is wide open and we’ll see them again.”