By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Class 6A No. 6-ranked Washburn Rural's girls collected their biggest win of the year against No. 3-ranked Derby Friday in shockingly blowout fashion.
Derby had not lost a regular-season game since Feb. 9 of last year, but the Junior Blues took control early in Friday's Lady Firebirds Winter Classic semifinal at Free State en route to a 54-37 rout.
Friday night’s contest between two of the best teams in Class 6A was all about physicality.
Derby, which has one of the biggest starting fives in the state, was matched up well with an aggressive Washburn team.
The aggressiveness began with Junior Blues senior Emma Krueger, who locked up with Derby’s most physical player, Maryn Archer, and Rural fed off of Krueger’s energy and defensive toughness from the start.
“There was a tone set by (Krueger) early,” Lady Blues coach Kevin Bordewick said. “She’s a defensive stopper that every team wishes they could have. She was a key figure in not allowing (Derby) to do what they wanted to do more.”
“In physical games like those, the referees aren’t going to give you many calls,” Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn DeLeye said. “You have to be tough and fight through it, and do whatever it takes to control the ball.”
Rural's starters had their way against Derby from the tipoff.
MaRyah Lutz and Zoe Canfield knocked down two 3-pointers apiece before the halftime break, while DeLeye and Jada Ingram combined for 19 points, all in the paint.
The second half continued the Junior Blues' momentum, with Rural able to extend their lead.
MaRyah Lutz scored 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in Friday's 54-37 semifinal win over Derby in the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn DeLeye scored 14 points in the Junior Blues' 54-37 semifinal win over Derby on Friday in the Lady Firebirds' Winter Classic. [File photo/TSN]
Lutz and DeLeye would go on to lead the Lady Blues in points with 14 points each.
“I feel more confident with my shot,” Lutz said after converting three 3-point shots. “Tonight was big for my game.''
The red-hot Lady Blues won't have much time to savor Friday's win for long, with Rural taking on No.1-ranked Shawnee Mission West in Saturday's tournament championship game.
“I’m going to enjoy this win for about five minutes before thinking about Shawnee Mission West,” Bordewick said.
WEST GIRLS FALL TO LEAVENWORTH, 51-34
Topeka West held a 22-21 advantaing going into the halftime break, but Leavenworth used to a 22-5 third quarter to take control on the way to a 51-34 in Friday's tournament consolation game.
Leavenworth guard Kaylee McLain, who has had eye-opening performances in the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic, had an 11-point third quarter for the Pioneers.
“We had good energy coming out of halftime,'' McLain said. "Our team’s energy helped me in the third quarter. I’m happy that we played our best. I’d like for us (Leavenworth) to carry the shooting from tonight into tomorrow.''.
West coach Jeff Skar felt the Chargers fell into the same trap as Thursday’s game against Derby.
“We shot the ball well to start the game, we didn’t shoot the ball well into the second half,'' Skar said. "It was disappointing that we didn’t learn our lesson against Derby yesterday, and that carried over to today.''
The third quarter in the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic has been the Lady Chargers’ biggest weakness over their first two games as Topeka West has been outscored 39-5 in the third quarter.
Topeka West junior Jazmyn Ford led the Chargers with 14 points. Ford went 8-13 from the charity stripe and had seven points in the first half and seven in the second half.
“We were exposed to things we aren’t good at right now,” Skar said. “We don’t play next week, so we will spend the week working on defensive transitioning and rebounding.”
Leavenworth coach Ryan Foster was pleased with the way his team rallied after a flat first start.
“We came out flat in the first quarter but turned it around,'' Foster said. "Seeing them play as a unit was awesome. We were able to rally together, rebound well, and play great team defense.''
The Lady Chargers will not play Saturday in the final day of the tournament due to Schlagle being without the appropriate amount of players.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 54, DERBY 37
Washburn Rural 16 19 10 9 – 54
Derby 10 13 7 7 – 37
Washburn Rural – DeLeye 6 2-3 14, Lutz 5 1-1 14, Ingram 5 2-4 12, Canfield 2 2-2 8, Krueger 1 5-7 7.
Derby – White 6 2-2 15, Archer 3 3-4 9, Boettjer 3 0-1 6, Smith 1 0-0 3, Wilson 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals -- Washburn Rural 5, Derby 2. Total fouls -- Washburn Rural 8, Derby 16.
LEAVENWORTH GIRLS 51, TOPEKA WEST 34
Topeka West 14 8 5 7 – 34
Leavenworth 6 15 22 8 – 51
Leavenworth – McLain 5 1-2 14, Wright 6 0-0 13, K. James 5 0-0 11, Gardner 3 2-2 8, Thomas 1 0-3 2, West 1 0-0 2, Garrett 0 1-2 1.
Topeka West – Ford 3 8-13 14, Sanchez 3 0-1 7, Benson 2 0-0 6, Duncan 2 0-0 5, Foster 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals -- Leavenworth 5, Topeka West 4. Total fouls -- Leavenworth 10, Topeka West 10.
