For the third straight game the Derby Panthers found themselves facing a top-ten ranked team in 5A, 4A and 6A; it just so happened on Friday night that the third time was the charm.
The Panthers started off the game with an 11-2 run and held off a late surge from the Mustangs to win 64-55.
Derby started out with full-court pressure and a fast-paced transition game that had Salina Central on their heels. Led by Kyler Steadman and Josiah Ray the Panthers jumped out early on the 'Stangs. But Central's Kyle Mcquaige is just as fast and just as talented as Steadman and he helped his team come storming back to keep it close.
Derby built up a double-digit lead with key buckets from Steadman, Ray and Taylor Schieber in the first half but were unable to be consistent from the free-throw line. That allowed McQuaige, Treyton Hines and Mark Vaughn to shoot their way back into the game. Derby held just a 5-point lead at the half.
It was much of the same in the second half featuring a whole lot of Steadman and McQuaige. Each player led their team with 18 and 26 points respectively on the night.
Things got dicey for the Panthers down the stretch as they continued to miss the front ends of their 1-and-1 shots allowing the Mustangs to get back within 4 points of the lead. That was as close as they would come, however, as Derby was able to hang on with Steadman hitting buckets at the charity stripe.
The matchup between the Derby and Salina Central girls was definitely not what anyone would have expected. The Panthers had just a couple wins on the season while the Mustangs were ranked first in 5A and had just two losses.
It was Alyxis Bowens for Derby and Emily Wood for Salina Central that were battling early for points; they combined for the game's first 12.
It was a close game but Derby led for the first three quarters, building up a 17-11 lead after one and holding that lead until the fourth. It was in that fourth quarter that the Panthers started getting sloppy, turning the ball over and committing silly fouls, that allowed the Mustangs back into the game. MacKenzie Morris teamed up with Wood and Madison Shetlar to force turnovers and create easy buckets on the other end.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs Shaelyn Martin had to leave the game prematurely with a nasty looking cut over her left eye which was bleeding profusely as she left the floor. The staff here at Eyewitness Sports and Catch it Kansas wish her speedy recovery.
It probably makes Martin feel a little better that her team was able to rally back for a 47-42 win.
