Derby, Wichita South girls to meet in battle of unbeatens in Free State title game

The Derby girls had no intention of overlooking Lawrence Free State in Friday’s semifinal of the Free State tournament.

But the Panthers also were fully aware that a win meant a matchup with Wichita South, the three-time defending Class 6A champion, in the tourney title game on Saturday.

“In this game, the goal was to play South in this tournament,” Derby guard Haley Mills said. “We wanted to get there.”

Derby (12-0) beat Free State 57-41, while South (12-0) beat Washburn Rural 54-29. Derby will play South in the Free State tournament title game at 2 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re excited to see what we can do, see if we can get the win,” said Mills, who had 17 points and shot 5 of 8 from three-point range. “We want to see how we rank with them. And then, win or lose, we’ll know what we have to do to play them the next time.”

Since Dec. 15, Derby has beaten three teams that were undefeated at the time — Maize, Andover Central and Salina Central.

“South, in my mind, is the best in the state,” Derby coach Jodie Karsak said. “They just are. They’re solid. They’re a well-oiled team.… If we’re going to be a contender in the end, we need to see this now to make us better for that.”

First, though, Derby had to deal with Free State (8-3) and Madison Piper.

After an 11-all tie to end the first quarter, Derby held Free State scoreless for more than 11 minutes, including all of the second quarter.

“That was pretty big,” Mill said. “Our defense really stepped up. Kenzie (Young) was a solid rock on defense. Like always.”

But Piper got hot in the second half, hitting 6 of 9 threes. She finished with 25 points and seven threes.

Derby countered with Kennedy Brown, who scored 10 of her 14 points in the third quarter, connecting on all five shots. Tor’e Alford scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, including a three from just past halfcourt to end the third quarter.

And Mills, who missed five games with a concussion, had two threes in the fourth quarter.

Wichita South 54, Washburn Rural 29 — Washburn Rural’s zone defense was intended to slow South’s quick guards from penetrating and hamper South senior Kendrian Elliott’s ability to score.

Elliott was slowed, but she still had nine rebounds and scored 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting. She made 6 of 6 free throws.

The key to beating Washburn Rural’s zone?

“Just being effective with the basketball, making them work from the defensive end and making sure we take good shots,” South coach Antwain Scales said. “Not the first opportunity that presents itself, but a good shot.”

Elliott got in foul trouble in the third quarter, and Washburn Rural made a run to get within 30-21 with 2:39 to go in the period.

“I picked up my first foul kind of early in the first quarter because I was getting frustrated because I felt like I was open,” Elliott said. “… I have to start trusting my guards a little more because they know and they can see the court better than I can down low.”

South answered Washburn Rural’s run with an Ericka Mattingly three, and then Elliott came in and got a steal. Mattingly hit a three on that possession, as well. She finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three.

“She’s the gamer,” Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. “She’s the one we can’t allow to shoot.”

South guard Trezure Jobe finished the period with a three-pointer and the 18-point lead.

“They always come in clutch for us,” Elliott said of the Titans’ guards.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Derby, Wichita South girls to meet in battle of unbeatens in Free State title game."