​Eagles second-half comeback falls short in 57-50 loss to Pirates

by Michael Smith


For the first 16 minutes of the game, the offense looked off for the Grain Valley boys basketball team.

Turnovers and unorganized offense plagued the Eagles in the first half as they trailed Platte County 24-17 going into halftime in a Suburban White Conference showdown.

Grain Valley’s offense finally got going in the third quarter and it got back into the game through forcing turnovers and scoring in transition. However, the Eagles couldn’t get over the hump as they fell 57-50 Tuesday at home.

“It was like we were going in slow motion in the first half,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “Our trend the last few weeks … We just get off to terrible starts. Once our back is against the wall, we start playing well again.”

At the start of the third period, Platte County guard Judah Vignery hit a 3-pointer on the Pirates second possession to go up 27-17. From there, Grain Valley (7-6, 1-2 conference) outscored the Pirates 18-9 to cut the lead to 36-35 going into the fourth. The Eagles got five points off turnovers, which included a fast-break layup from junior Aaron Barr and a conventional 3-point play from senior guard Logan Marcum.

The Eagles also got a boost from one 3-pointer each from Marcum and Barr. The former’s trey cut Platte County’s lead to 34-33. The teams traded baskets on their final possessions which included a 18-foot jump shot from Vignery, that he shot with Marcum having a hand right in his face; and Grain Valley sophomore Samuel Pendergrass.

“In the third quarter, we finally started moving,” Herbert said. “We were so stagnant in the first half. We got some activity and energy and our defense helped out offense and our offense helped our defense.”

The Eagles kept it close for much of the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 44-43 once again after a pair of made free throws from senior guard Jack Schoen. However, they were unable to claim the lead at any point in the final period. A pair of baskets in the past from Platte junior guard Jaden Peterson, a driving layup from Vignery and four made free throws from Connor Currence fueled a 13-7 run to close the game for the Pirates.

The Platte County offense was powered by Vignery, who scored a game-high 28 points. He is a 6-foot-4 guard, who was two quick on his drives to the basket and had enough length to shoot over the top of Grain Valley’s guards, who had a hard time contesting his shot.

“He’s tough,” Herbert said of Vignery. “He’s going to make tough shots.”

​Barr led Grain Valley with 16 points and Marcum added 13.

Grain Valley junior guard Aaron Barr scored a team-high 16 points in Grain Valley's 57-50 loss to Platte County Tuesday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior guard Logan Marcum looks for an open teammate. He scored 13 points for the Eagles. Photo credit: Michael Smith