Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Caleb New Hits 13, Cole Ruby 12, but Tigers Ousted by Platte Valley

Worth County's boys got off to a promising start in the second round of districts Wednesday but fell to a loaded Platte Valley team 60-40. They battled injuries, youth, and inexperience all year and showed the ability to beat anyone on a given night, having beaten everybody else in their district, including state-ranked Rock Port. But they didn't have any answer for Andy Mattson, a 6'5" behemoth, or a squad that was loaded with seniors and depth. 

Early three pointers from Caleb New and Cole Ruby sparked the Tigers to a 9-4 lead early, but then Platte Valley fought back to tie it at 9 on Tucker Klamm's 3-pointer. Then, a costly defensive lapse by the Tigers, in which nobody blocked out on a rebounding situation, allowed Platte Valley to convert a fourth chance possession and lead 11-9 after one.

There was good reason to fear Justin Miller and Andy Mattson, who have been cogs for Platte Valley all year. But it was Tucker Klamm who sparked Platte Valley in the second quarter, going off for 11 points in the period. Meanwhile, Worth County missed 5 for 6 from the line during that stretch and came up ice cold, only managing a free throw from Cole Ruby and a 3-pointer by Caleb New. 

The Tigers handled the ball well against a team known for its suffocating defense, but Worth County had only two people in the scoring column in New and Ruby at the half, and they were outrebounded 16-11 by Platte Valley. All that added up to a 26-13 halftime deficit.

Worth County finally started getting things untracked in the third quarter as Karson Briner got on the board with seven in the period, Cole Ruby added a 3-pointer, and Hayden Sanders got on the board with another. The game threatened to snowball as the Tigers trailed by as much as 36-18, but thanks to their newfound balance, they got it down to 38-26 after Sanders' 3-pointer. 

But just as it looked like Worth County would have a chance to mount a comeback, a costly defensive lapse happened, when nobody matched up on Miller, who was all alone for a corner three in transition on the ensuing possession. That sparked a 12-0 run by Platte Valley capped off by another Miller 3-pointer to make it 50-26 after three.

Hayden Sanders hit his second 3-pointer and Caleb New added a free throw as the Tigers whittled away at the deficit, getting it down to 50-30. They were trying to press to get the ball back, but Platte Valley simply stationed Mattson underneath the basket and pushed the ball up the floor to him, and he had 10 points in the final period as the Tiger deficit never got below 20.

Karson Briner and Cannon Fletcher played in their final games as a Tiger. Worth County will return everybody back as well as a strong freshman class that went undefeated in junior high this year.

Caleb New had 13, Cole Ruby 12, Hayden Sanders 8, and Karson Briner 7 for the Tigers. 

Karson Briner had 3 blocks and Caleb New 1.

Karson Briner had 6 boards. Lucas Frisch had 5, Caleb New 4, Hayden Sanders 2, and Cole Ruby 1.

Cole Ruby and Cannon Fletcher had 3 assists each. Karson Briner, Lucas Frisch, and Hayden Sanders had 2 and Caleb New had 1.

Caleb New and Cole Ruby had 2 tips. Cannon Fletcher, Hayden Sanders, and Dylan Smith had 1.

Cannon Fletcher, Karson Briner, Dylan Smith, and Franklynn Taute had 1 steal each.

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