By Kyle McCaskey

Missed free throw seals win for Derby boys

A win is a win, and Derby Head Coach Brett Flory will take it every time.

"I just told the guys 'don't apologize for winning in the league on the road in February,'" Flory said. "A win on the road in the league in February - it counts just as much if you win by 40. We're not disappointed in that."

Derby edged out a 58-57 victory in Maize behind 22 points from Kyler Steadman. However, when time was running out, the game was out of Derby's hands.

The Panthers led by as much as 18 in the third quarter, but Maize evaporated that advantage late in the fourth. Josiah Ray hit 1-of-2 free throws with seven seconds left to give Derby a 58-55 lead. JC Sturgeon launched a 3-point heave toward the basket as time ran down that missed - but Tyler Chambers fouled him on the play.

Sturgeon stepped to the line and hit the first two shots, but the third struck the back iron and clanked out, preserving Derby's win.

"Sturgeon is a tough kid and a great player," Flory said. "I don't know about anybody else, but I was pretty certain he was going to make all three. In my head, I was going over plans for overtime."

Steadman, a senior, righted the Derby ship several times, including all 12 of the team's points in the second quarter. 

"They're a good team," he said. "They came out here and almost gave us our first loss in the league. They're a hard-working team. They have a lot of stuff going for them."

Derby improved to 13-4 overall and 9-0 in league play. 

 

Ranked Maize overpowers Panthers

The Derby girls put up a fight against the No. 3 ranked team in 6A, but Maize stayed steady for a 65-53 victory.

Maize used a 12-point run to create its biggest lead of the game at 22 points in the third quarter, but Derby continued to push back. Down 54-36 in the fourth, the Panthers chipped away at the lead, getting back to within 12 early in the fourth quarter, but time eventually ran out.

"I think we did a lot of good things tonight," said Jessica Fuller, Derby head coach. "It just goes to show you we can hang with some of these really good teams if we do what we do best and take care of the ball. We just have to understand what our strengths are."

Derby was sloppy with the ball, giving away 31 turnovers, but it was par for the night. Maize, a typically steady-handed squad, had 16 turnovers.

Keiryn Swenson led all scorers with 19 points, and Paige Lungwitz added 17. Alyxis Bowens each had 11 for Derby, while Hannah Jimenez and Michaela Liebst added nine a piece.

The Panthers (3-14, 1-8) are mired in a losing streak, but get a chance to end it against Campus on Tuesday. Derby defeated Campus earlier this season.

"We're trying to take it one game at a time and trying to play consistent," Fuller said. 

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