High school basketball preview: Derby Panthers (+video)
Schedule
December – 8, Andale; 11, at Campus; 15, Maize; 18, Hutchinson.
January – 5 at Salina South; 8, at Newton; 12, at Andover Central; 14 or 16, TBA at Koch Arena; 15, at Salina Central; 21-23, at McPherson tournament (B); 26, Andover; 28-30, at Free State tournament (G).
February – 2, at Eisenhower; 5, Campus; 9, at Maize; 12, Salina Central; 16, at Hutchinson; 19, Newton; 26, Salina South.
Boys
Coach: Brett Flory, fifth season
Last season: 18-5
Top players
Nyjee Wright, 5-10, jr., G
Trevor Hall, 6-5, sr,. F
Trevor Gordon, 6-3, jr., G
Kenyon Tabor, 6-5, jr., F
Jonah Packard, 6-4, sr., F
It’s a mistake to compare these Panthers to last season’s Derby team.
“Last year’s group was an anomaly,” Flory said. “We spent a lot of time playing three point guards, a two-guard and a four-man. This year will look more traditional in size and position.
“Last year’s team shot so many threes it was ridiculous. We can still shoot the three, but we should get inside more, both with driving and our post play.”
The offense starts with Wright, who Flory calls the state’s best point guard.
“He’s the consummate point guard,” Flory said. “He can score when he needs to. He can set people up when he wants.”
Hall will continue to play out of his natural forward position because Flory needs a center.
“He can do more facing the basket, driving the ball, than he has been able to show,” Flory said. “We’re hoping he can step into a larger role and pick up some of the scoring. He’s always done a good job of blocking shots.”
As short as last season’s team was, the Panthers have height in Hall, Gordon, Tabor and Packard. Gordon is a tall two-guard, and Tabor can play more of a guard-forward. Senior guard Tanner Worley, a national-level inline skater, will also play a key role.
“This group has some really nice pieces,” Flory said. “The only question is they haven’t had a lot of time together.”
Girls
Coach: Jodie Karsak, third season
Last season: 8-14
Top players
Katie Hartman, 5-3, sr., G
Kenzie Young, 5-4, sr., G
Haley Mills, 5-7, sr., G
Hannah Steinert, 5-5, sr., G
Avery Noel, 5-8, sr., F
With a stable of senior guards already in place with Hartman, Young, Mills and Steinart, Derby also adds freshman Tor’e Alford.
“Tor’e will most likely be able to handle the ball for us with her being a true point guard … and that will allow the others the freedom to get out and run and gun. We should be able to do that and fly around a little bit more on defense,” Karsak said.
Young is one of the Panthers’ best athletes; she is a two-time All-Metro selection in volleyball and softball.
Karsak will exploit her guards’ talent and speed with a trapping and pressure defense.
Derby’s inside game has changed because senior Grace Mitchell, who signed with Nebraska, moved back to Wellington. But freshman Kennedy Brown, who is 6-foot-4, can step in immediately.
“She’s a pretty confident kid,” Karsak said. “… She’s a little more mature than the typical freshman, and she’s played in high-caliber basketball already.”
Noel and sophomore Holly Mills are also strong post players, just without Brown’s size.
The mix of youth with the veteran players could make for a quick start for Derby, which last had a winning season in 2008-09.
“We haven’t turned the corner yet,” Karsak said. “If we can win a couple ballgames early, I think they’ll taste the winning and we’ll get on a roll.”
Joanna Chadwick
This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 9:40 AM with the headline "High school basketball preview: Derby Panthers (+video)."