Penney Hornets grab Saturday victories, move into KCI Tournament semifinals

High School Basketball

The Hornets of Penney High School of Hamilton convincingly took care of their quarterfinal competition, advancing into Tuesday night’s semifinals of the KCI Conference Basketball Tournament at Plattsburg High School.

The Penney boys, led by the return of senior forward LaTroy Harper, have the #1 seed for the annual event, and looked powerful in a 73-43 win over West Platte.  The win moves Hamilton into the semifinal round, and a 7:30 meeting with Lawson on Tuesday night.  The #4 seed Cardinals survived against Lathrop on Saturday night, winning 59-58.

On Saturday morning, the Mid-Buchanan Dragons, the boys #2 seed, cruised to victory over North Platte, winning 63-37.  The biggest upset of the boys quarterfinals came in the final game on Saturday night, with #6 seed Plattsburg knocking off third-seed East Buchanan, 58-56.  Plattsburg will host Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday night at 9 o’clock.

The boys consolation semifinals will be played tonight (Monday night) from Plattsburg, as West Platte battles Lathrop at 7:30, followed by North Platte opposite East Buchanan at 9 o’clock.

The Penney Lady Hornets, playing mid-afternoon on Saturday, won the 4 vs. 5 quarterfinal against the Lathrop Lady Mules, 58-36.  The win moves Hamilton into a 4:30 semifinal on Tuesday afternoon with the top-seeded Mid-Buchanan Lady Dragons, a 59-21 winner over West Platte.  West Platte and Lathrop will play in the first game of Monday’s consolation session, at 4:30 PM.

The East Buchanan Lady Bulldogs hammered Lawson 51-23, while the North Platte girls cruised to a 58-26 win over Plattsburg, setting up the bottom half of the KCI girls bracket, with East Buchanan and North Platte in a Tuesday night (6:00) semifinal, while Lawson and Plattsburg play in a 6 o’clock consolation semifinal on Monday night.