Harper, Richman lead Hornets to KCI championship game with 20 point semifinal victory

High School Basketball

It did not take long for Jaran Richman and LaTroy Harper to work their football excellence and bring it over to the basketball court, as the Penney Hornets “dynamic duo” combined for 39 points in a 60-40 win over East Buchanan.

The game, played on Tuesday night, was a KCI Conference Tournament semifinal, played at East Buchanan’s gymnasium in Gower.  Harper scored 23 points and Richman 16 as the Hornets improve to 3-0.  

The win sends up a winner-take-all conference championship game with budding rival Lawson, as the two KCI football powers from this past fall go to the hardwood, Friday night at 8 o’clock.  Lawson was impressive in its own right, beating a tradition-rich Mid-Buchanan Dragon squad late on Tuesday night, 70-65.  East Buchanan will host Mid-Buchanan in the KCI boy’s third place game, Friday night at 5 o’clock.

On the girl side, the #1 seed Mid-Buchanan Lady Dragons downed West Platte in Tuesday’s first semifinal, 48-32.  In semifinal #2, Lathrop’s Lady Mules defeated the Lawson Lady Cards 52-32.  It will be Mid-Buchanan vs. Lathrop in the girls championship game at Gower, Friday night at 6:30, with West Platte and Lawson in the girl’s third place game, Thursday night at 8:00.

The consolation finals will get Thursday night’s action started from East Buchanan, with the Penney girls playing East Buchanan at 5 o’clock, followed by the Lathrop boys against Plattsburg at 6:30.

There are no games scheduled on Wednesday night for the KCI Conference Basketball Tournament.