In its 87-year history, the Pleasant Hill Invitational has never awarded the championship trophies to both the Pleasant Hill boys and girls basketball teams in the same year.
But this season, the Roosters and the Chicks were on a roll, flying through the rounds and fighting to the end to clinch the titles Jan. 14.
“We played pretty well and the girls are happy and proud to share the tournament championship with our boys,” Pleasant Hill head girls coach Jim Underwood said.
“This was a very satisfying week,” Pleasant Hill head boys coach Ryan Messinger echoed. “Something that the kids should be proud of. Congratulations to the Chicks for winning the championship as well and for it to be the first time ever with both teams winning in the same year, it really says something about the basketball tradition we have at Pleasant Hill.”
The No. 1 seeded Chicks, after rolling past No. 8 seeded Belton 54-24 in the first round, went on to shut down No. 4 seeded Pembroke Hill 42-36 in the semifinals. The girls then had to take on No. 2 seeded Grain Valley, conquering the Lady Eagles 40-35.
Grain Valley led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Chicks fought back to take a 21-18 lead at halftime and clung to a 30-29 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Kindred Wesemann led Pleasant Hill in scoring with 13 points, followed by Breeona Foster with 11 points. Emily McKee had seven points, Rachel Schick added six points and Courtney Gibbins netted three points.
The No. 3 seeded Pleasant Hill boys, after overwhelming NO. 6 seeded Odessa 64-33 in the first round, overcame No. 7 seeded Summit Christian Academy 72-34 in the semifinals before facing No. 5 seeded Clinton in the championship game.
The Roosters nosed out the Cardinals 56-51. The score was knotted at 11-11 at the end of the first quarter and Clinton led 24-22 at halftime and 41-39 at the end of the third quarter. Pleasant Hill outscored the Cardinals 17-10 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Brad Smith led the Roosters in scoring with 24 points, followed by Josh Shewmaker with 11 points and Josh Alaniz and Hunter Mounce with six points each. Josh Griffith added five points and Trenten Roach netted four points.
The No. 8 seeded Belton girls lost to No. 5 seeded Grandview 52-30 in the consolation semifinals and to No. 7 seeded Summit Christian Academy 43-37 in the seventh place game.
The No. 2 seeded Belton boys lost a close call to No. 7 seeded Summit Christian Academy 46-44 in the first round, but defeated No. 6 seeded Odessa 44-19 in the consolation semifinals and No. 4 seeded Smithville 56-52 for fifth place.
For more photos of the championship game, visit www.demo-mo.com/sports/galleries/.