As the postseason inches forward, the schedule heats up for the Derby boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.
A quick spate of games will test more than the conditioning of the Panthers – both squads will find out how much progress has been made in the early season.
Boys’ basketball
The first eight games of the season were by no means easy for Derby, but compared to the upcoming stretch, it was a vacation.
The Panthers are 7-1, with only a three-point loss to Wichita Southeast. Derby swept through the first set of Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I games at 6-0.
Derby’s next challenge is more daunting. The Panthers take on the field in the McPherson Tournament of Champions this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Of the eight teams in the tournament, only two bring losing records. The slate opens with Shawnee Mission East today.
“I think you can always get tougher, and that’s something we’re hopefully going to be able to work on,” Head Coach Brett Flory said. “We’re going to need to be, because if we’re not, those teams in that McPherson tournament will certainly expose that.”
The Panthers host an undefeated Andover Central squad on Jan. 24. A week later, Derby travels to face an 8-1 McPherson team whose only loss came to Andover Central.
Flory wants to see better offensive rebounding in tournament play before the two tough tests.
“Obviously, we have no bargains after that, with Andover Central and a return game at McPherson. We know that this schedule for us is daunting,” he said. “We got off to a good start, and hopefully that will carry over to the McPherson tournament now.”
League play picks back up on Feb. 3 against Salina Central. Garden City visits for a Saturday game a night later before the Panthers round out the round-robin league schedule with five games.
With a perfect league mark, Derby is in the driver’s seat for the AVCTL title. Except for Hutchinson (5-1), all other AVCTL Division I foes have at least two league losses.
Girls’ basketball
Bench production has been a challenge for the Derby girls, who held a 3-6 record.
Whether or not it has improved in recent practices will quickly be determined. Starting Jan. 26, Derby will play seven games in 13 days.
“I don’t feel like we’re that different from top to bottom, it just hasn’t been showing as of late,” said Jessica Fuller, Derby head coach. “We need to pick it up, and probably push them a little bit in practice and not focus so much on our starting lineup.”
The Panthers will play three games in the Topeka tournament Jan. 26-28. From Jan. 31 to Feb. 7, Derby will face McPherson, Salina Central, Garden City and Newton.
Starting with the McPherson game, Derby will play five consecutive games against opponents with winning records.
Derby has been competitive. In its first nine games, Derby has led or been tied at halftime five times, and was within six points in three others.
“I just want to see some consistency and finish some games,” Fuller said. “I know we can play with everybody. We’ve proven that. We just have to be able to play for 32 minutes. I think we will. I think they’re still learning, but it’s time now.”
Derby was 1-5 in the first set of AVCTL Division I matchups.