By Kyle McCaskey

Derby boys claim AVCTL title

The Derby boys' basketball team (15-4, 11-0) claimed the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I title outright on Friday, but not without some early worry.

Hutchinson sparked early, snagging a 25-14 lead in the second quarter. Derby began to rally back on Senior Night behind Kyler Steadman.

Steadman, the team's leading scorer, did not score in the first 10 minutes of the game. In the 22 minutes following, he dropped 24 points in a 69-54 win.

"I wasn't going to lose my Senior Night. It wasn't happening," Steadman said. "I just got it in my head that these guys were going to lift me up, and we were going to get this thing done together."

The Panthers held a slim two-point edge after three quarters, but a 9-0 burst to open the fourth helped Derby outscore Hutchinson 23-10 in the final period.

Lucas Munds led Hutchinson with 12 points. Josiah Ray added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Derby. 

"That was the first time all year, as a group, that I felt in the second half we were tough," said Brett Flory, Derby head coach. "That's a great sign, because if this group can be tough - and Kyler sure was a catalyst for that in this game - we can really do some special things, I think."

Hutchinson streaks trouble Panther girls

Ugly starts to the first and fourth quarters doomed the Derby girls against Hutchinson, as the Panthers (4-15, 2-9) dropped a 49-40 contest.

Hutchinson dominated the first quarter, jumping to a 15-6 lead. Derby erased four points off the Salthawks lead in the third to trim the deficit to eight, but Hutchinson scored the first eight points of the fourth to create a cushion. 

The Panthers came within six points in the final two minutes, but time erased Derby's hopes for a win on Senior Night.

"We were rushing some shots and taking some shots we wouldn't normally take," said Jessica Fuller, Derby head coach. "We came out not hitting, also, so I think we felt like we needed to make up for it."

Alyxis Bowens (13 points), Hannah Jimenez (11) and Madi Greenwood (10) all reached double figures for Derby. Sydney Small led Hutchinson with 12, and Shea and Shelby Morford each scored 11.

Derby will end its regular season at Salina South on Friday.