Great Bend’s girls will get accustomed to playing state-ranked teams by the end of the week. The Panthers (8-4) lost to state-ranked Leavenworth 59-40 and Washburn Rural 71-41 to finish fourth at the Capital Classic Tournament.

Carley Brack (18 ppg) earned All-Tournament honors at the Capital Classic. Camryn Dunekack (10 ppg) and Carly Dreiling (10 ppg) have continued to perform at a high level.

Now, all the Panthers will see is Kennedy Brown, a 6-foot-6 Division 1 recruit. Derby crushed Lawrence High 56-33 keyed by 20 points and 19 rebounds by Brown. Derby buried Maize 70-36 in the semifinals. Brown held Lawrence’s 6-3 Chisom Ajekwu to three points. After Derby, the Panthers return home Friday to meet state-ranked Liberal.

The Panthers boys (3-9) will be fresh after an eight-day layoff with Kody Crosby and Brayden Smith leading the way. Derby (9-3) is led by Nyjee Wright (20 ppg), Josh Clavin (11 ppg) and Trevor Gordon (11 ppg). The high-powered Panthers lost to Holcomb 65-61 in the Dodge City championship.

CENTRAL PRAIRIE BOYS

The Otis-Bison (3-0, 11-3) at Central Plains (2-0, 8-4) winner will stay unbeaten in league play. The Oilers will be off an eight-day layoff after losing to Pratt at the St. John-Mid Winter Classic. Otis-Bison was ranked first in Class 2A, but has lost three of four games after losing to Dighton and Sylvan-Lucas last week. 

LaCrosse (2-1, 7-7) at Macksville (1-2, 8-5)

Victoria (0-3, 0-14) at Ellinwood (0-3, 4-9)

Norwich at St. John (11-1)

CENTRAL PRAIRIE GIRLS

The Class 1A-Div. 2 Otis-Bison girls are ranked second (3-0, 13-1) and Central Plains (2-0, 12-0) is ranked first after winning three consecutive Class 2A state titles. Otis-Bison’s Taylor Regan is enjoying an all-state season. Emily Ryan and Janae Ryan earned All-Tournament honors at the Barton Hilltop Classic.

LaCrosse (2-1, 7-7) at Macksville (2-1, 6-7)

Victoria (0-3, 0-14) at Ellinwood (0-3, 4-9)

Norwich at St. John (6-6)

CENTRAL KANSAS BOYS

Larned’s boys (0-3, 3-10) at Nickerson (1-3, 5-7). Nickerson edged Nickerson 61-59 when the teams met a week ago at the Mid-Winter Classic. Both teams will play the Pratt Class 4A-Divsision 2 basketball substate.

Hoisington (2-1, 6-6) at Smoky Valley (3-0, 8-5)

CENTRAL KANSAS GIRLS

Larned’s girls (2-2, 7-6) at Nickerson (2-2, 3-9). Larned captured the final Pratt Tournament of Champions by beating Pratt, Ulysses and Wichita North. Nickerson lost to Haven, Garden Plain and Kingman at the Haven Wildcat Classic.

Hoisington (2-1, 5-6) at Smoky Valley (1-2, 4-9)