DERBY, KS - The Campus Colts marched into Panther Country to face their rival Derby Panthers on Friday night. It was a one-sided affair with Derby not letting up throughout the game, and the Panthers coasting to a 54-35 girls basketball victory.
Derby’s focus was simple: Do not let Campus junior Hayley Leeper heat up. Leeper, who shot 18 times from the field, was only able to knock down four of those shots. Leeper finished with 10 points in the loss.
For the Panthers, not having their sharpshooter in sophomore Hayley Mills for the game left some questions to be answered on the court. The Panthers needed somebody to step up early for them, and it came through sophomore Kenzie Young. Young hit three straight shots from the field to put the Panthers up 8-5 late in the first quarter. She finished with eight points and her hot start kept Campus from taking the lead.
Derby improves to 6-9 with the win, and moves on to face their toughest challenge in the Maize Eagles on the road.
"Maize has just an absolutely great thing going on over there, but they are beatable,” Derby coach Jodie Karsak said.
Maize has lost 4 games on the year with its last defeat coming against Leavenworth in the semifinals of the Lawrence Free State Tournament.
For Karsak, the upcoming game is all about belief.
“It’s convincing my girls that they can do it," Karsak said.
Campus falls to 4-10, with their only division win coming against Derby earlier in the year. They welcome the Hutchinson Salthawks into Haysville on Tuesday. For Campus, the Colts need to be more efficient from the field, especially from beyond the arc. The Colts were only able to hit 1-of-14 from 3-point range. Against the Panther zone scheme, lack of range really cost Campus.
Coming back from their tournament in Topeka, the Panthers were not satisfied with the way they performed. The Panthers only won one game in Topeka, a 61-21 win over Blue Valley West. Getting a big win at home against Campus, Karsak and senior Madi Greenwood agreed that this game was huge as far as momentum goes.
Scoring leaders
Derby- Mitchell 15, Greenwood 12, Young 8, Hartman 8, Benway 5.
Campus- Leeper 10, Brown 6, Wheeler 5.
