The only sure thing for the Great Bend’s basketball teams Tuesday is the Panthers are guaranteed to win. The visiting 6A Derby Panthers are dominating favorites in both games. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
PANTHER GIRLS — The scrappy Great Bend girls will limp into Tuesday’s home game after two overtime losses, but no wins to show for their extra effort last week at Emporia’s Glacier’s Edge Tournament. Great Bend’s girls (3-9) are huge underdogs after playing very well in spots last week in losses to Emporia 41-37 (2 OT), Topeka Shawnee Heights 47-43 and Shawnee Mission North 63-59 (OT).
Camryn Dunekack played her best basketball of the season with games of 14, 18 and a career high 27 points. Carley Brack played solidly with games of 10, 11 and 12 points. Sydney Unruh shined with games of 11 and 13 in her final two games. Brack scored 16 points in a solid effort in last year's 51-26 loss at Derby. Great Bend adjusted its offensive game to shoot from outside after getting shots blocked inside the first half. Great Bend committed 28 turnovers.
Derby’s girls, last year’s 6A state runner-up, is the best basketball team the home Panthers will play until next week when they play 4A powerhouse McPherson (12-1). McPherson handed Derby its loss 54-49 in the season opener.
Derby’s girls (12-1) feature 6-foot-6 Kennedy Brown, one of the state’s premier college basketball recruits who has been offered scholarships by Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Louisville and Oklahoma State. Brown dominated with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots in Derby’s victory. Derby’s girls cruised to a midseason title last week in Topeka with victories over Goddard Eisenhower 69-14, Topeka West 76-23 and Maize High 52-40.
PANTHER BOYS — Great Bend’s offensive sparkplug has been point guard Tyler Schremmer, who has energized the Panthers with games of 18, 19 and 20 points after becoming eligible. Ty Esfeld has played better each week and enjoyed a solid 15-point game Friday. Great Bend’s biggest issue in Friday’s 64-61 loss was 38 fouls which led to a 52 free throws by Dodge City.
Great Bend played a solid game last year in a 55-43 loss to Derby, which was keyed by Nyjee Wright. Derby’s boys (8-4) feature a one-two scoring punch from Tyler Brown (20.6 ppg) and Bryant Mocaby (16 ppg) in a fast-paced, defensive and offensive style. Derby has lost games to McPherson 73-58, Maize 61-59, Wichita South 80-68 and Maize South 71-56.
WESTERN ATHLETIC BOYS
Hays High... 3-0 9-5
Dodge City.. 2-0 7-5
Garden City. 2-1 7-6
Liberal..... 0-3 5-8
Great Bend.. 0-3 2-10
FRIDAY
Dodge City 64, Great Bend 61
Liberal 62, Hugoton 57
TUESDAY
Derby at Great Bend
Salina South at Hays High
Garden City at Dodge City
WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Hays High... 3-0 8-5
Liberal.... 2-1 12-1
Dodge City.. 1-1 7-5
Great Bend.. 1-2 3-9
Garden City. 0-3 4-9
LAST WEEK
Emporia 41-37 Great Bend; Shawnee Heights 47-43 Great Bend; SM North 63-59 Great Bend
Wichita NW 47-27, SMMW 36-32 Hays; SM South 53-49 Hays
Miege 63-29 DC; KMC 52-45 DC 38-24 GC
Carroll 52-22 GC; Andover Central 54-46 GC
Liberal 64, Hugoton 50
