By Kyle McCaskey

Somewhere along the way, senior Hannah Jimenez became the floor leader of the Derby girls’ basketball team.

It is not her responsibility alone – it cannot be on a team that is 4-15 – but when the Panthers begin to sputter out of control, Jimenez has been there to reset the path.

“We just need someone. We’ve never had anyone. We haven’t had anyone the past three years,” Jimenez said. “I stepped up, I guess.”

Derby dropped a 49-40 decision to Hutchinson this past Friday, but Jimenez did her part to keep the Panthers in striking distance. 

When Hutchinson broke open an 11-point lead in the second quarter, Jimenez hit a 3-pointer. When the lead stretched to 14 early in the third, she hit another. With a minute to go in the third, she drilled one more to bring Derby within seven.

The Salthawks opened the fourth quarter with an eight-point run, spurned by some poor choices on offense by the Panthers.

“That was really what we talked about, was our shot selection,” said Jessica Fuller, Derby head coach. “We were rushing some shots and taking some shots we wouldn’t normally take. We came out not hitting, also, so I think we felt like we needed to make up for it.”

Madi Greenwood hit a field goal with under two minutes to play to bring Derby within six, but the Panthers never got closer.

Alyxis Bowens finished with 13 points for Derby. Jimenez added 11.

The Panthers dominated early against Campus on Feb. 14, staking a 22-5 lead after the first quarter. 

“They were never on offense. Every time we got the ball, we’d steal, transition and score,” Jimenez said. “We knew that it was going to be a fight, so we took off.”

Derby led by as much as 24 in the second quarter, but the Colts put together several small rallies to bring the score to a 54-44 final.

Jimenez scored 16 points and contributed eight rebounds. She made 6-of-9 shots from the field, while the rest of the team combined to hit 12-of-43. In her past four games, Jimenez has averaged 11 points a contest.

“She’s starting to feel more comfortable. She’s obviously a vocal leader because she has experience,” Fuller said. “She did a good job of stepping up and leading, like she always does.”

The Panthers will visit Salina South on Friday in the regular season finale. Sub-state competition begins next week. 

Along with Jimenez, Shelby Smith and Michaela Liebst played their final games on their home court against Hutchinson this past Friday.

“This senior class was very meaningful to me because they were freshmen my first year as varsity coach,” Fuller said. “They’ve been through a lot of rough patches, and they’ve stuck it out. 

“They started when they were freshmen in a group of 14 or 15, and now they’re the three remaining ones that have really done a good job of leading, staying loyal, believing in the team and the program and sticking out through some very winless seasons.”

 

Hutchinson 49, Derby 40

Feb. 17 at Derby

                   1   2   3   4     Final

Hutchinson   15 10 10 14      49

Derby           6   7  14 13      40

Hutchinson: Small 12, Shea Morford 11, Shelby Morford 11, Mayes 8, Starks 6, Clark 1

Derby: Bowens 13, Jimenez 11, Greenwood 10, Liebst 6

 

Derby 54, Campus 44

Feb. 14 at Derby

                 1   2   3   4     Final

Campus      5  11  9  19      44

Derby         22 10  6  16      54 

Campus: Keck 15, Bosley 12, Vann 5, Zogelmann 4, Leeper 3, Howe 2, Wheeler 2, Alyson Krier 1

Derby: Jimenez 16, Bowens 9, Liebst 9, Greenwood 7, Holcomb 6, Long 5, Swartz 2

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