Piper downs Mill Valley in clash of top-10 basketball teams: 810 Varsity Showcase recap

Saturday’s 810 Varsity Showcase 39 action featured a pair of top-10 teams in Kansas Classes 6A and 5A. Another game came down to the wire at Piper High School.

Here’s a recap of Saturday’s games...

Piper 75, Mill Valley 62

Whatever Steve Wallace preached to Piper in an early timeout should be saved for the postseason rally down the road.

Piper, No. 3 in Kansas Class 5A, ambushed Mill Valley, No. 6 in Class 6A, 75-62 in the finale of 810 Varsity Showcase 39 on Saturday night at Piper’s new school and arena.

The Jaguars (4-2) opened the game with a 10-2 surge, but a quick timeout just 2:15 into the game by Piper’s head coach resulted in a shock wave. The Pirates closed the half with a 42-18 spurt for a 44-28 halftime margin; they didn’t see their lead drop within single digits until the fourth quarter.

Derrick Jackson Jr. paced the Pirates (5-1) with a game-high 24 points, while senior PJ Moore (17) and junior Alamar Brooks (16) also netted double digits.

Senior Carter Kaifes fueled Mill Valley with 20 points, while JaKhai Carter added 17.

Blue Valley West 55, Lee’s Summit West 41

Ryan Hintz closed the year with an addition to his family, and notched his first win of the new year on Saturday.

The Jaguars handled Lee’s Summit West 55-41 in 810 Varsity Showcase 39 on Saturday. The win marked the first this season with Hintz on the sideline, who missed most of December due to paternity leave.

Blue Valley West (3-4) held the lead from the outset. Senior Tyler Peterson led the Jags with 15 points, while fellow senior Luke Goodale added 10.

Sophomore standout Cameron Barnes netted a game-high 17 points for Lee’s Summit West (3-7).

Park Hill South 57, Blue Valley Southwest 55 OT (boys)

A night after losing to its district rival, Park Hill South healed in the best fashion — with a win.

The Panthers outlasted Blue Valley Southwest 57-55 in overtime in Game 2 of 810 Varsity Showcase 39 on Saturday. Park Hill South tumbled to Park Hill on Friday night, 65-54.

Two Carson Bjorn free throws with 3.5 ticks left in regulation tied the score at 52-52, then the Timberwolves missed an attempt at the buzzer from the top of the key.

After both teams traded 3-pointers in overtime, Bjorn found a cutting Cooper Oathout for a lay-in with 7.2 seconds remaining and a 57-55 lead. Southwest got two tries to tie or win, but failed with a turnover and missed 28-footer.

Bjorn led the Panthers with 18 points, while Oathout added 14. Eli Mick paced the Timberwolves with 16, while Joshua Arterburn and Baylor Rank each chipped in 13.

North Kansas City 40, Blue Valley Southwest 37 (girls)

North Kansas City fought off a Timberwolves comeback and won 40-37 in the opening game of 810 Varsity Showcase 39, held at Piper High School on Saturday.

The Hornets (5-4) held an 18-8 lead in the first half, but eventually Blue Valley Southwest fought back for a 26-22 lead entering the fourth quarter.

North Kansas City warmed up again with 3-pointers from sophomore Holly Barlow and junior Macey Willmann, who finished with a game-high 18 points. The Hornets also drove and worked inside to draw fouls, and hit 7-of-8 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

Blue Valley Southwest, entering the game at a perfect 4-0, had one last chance in the final seconds, but a 3-point attempt caromed off the iron as the buzzer sounded.

Senior Lily Unruh led the Timberwolves with 14 points.

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