By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural’s Brooklyn DeLeye had a smooth and quiet 18-point night Thursday, missing just two shots on eight attempts, as the Lady Blues rolled to a 57-30 win over Leavenworth in the first round of the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic at Free State.
“Going into tournaments, we have to just go one game at a time,” said DeLeye, a 6-foot-2 junior. “We have to look on to the next and face a good team.''
Junior Brooklyn DeLeye scored a game-high 18 points in Thursday's 57-30 win over Leavenworth in the first round of the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic. [File photo/TSN]
The momentum of the Round 1 game started and finished with the No. 6-ranked Lady Blues in control.
The Lady Blues had the hot hand early, going on a 15-2 run 3:47 into the first quarter.
Zoe Canfield and Emma Krueger hit a combined three 3-point shots in the run, while DeLeye had four points in the paint.
“In the first quarter, we hit some threes which always opens things up,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "Our defense fed off of that and put together some really good stops.''
DeLeye had a nine-point second quarter, including a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Jada Ingram scored four points as Washburn Rural earn a 22-point lead going into the halftime break.
Leavenworth played better in the second half, getting 11 points on the night from guard Kaylee McLain, but the Pioneers were unable to make a series run, with Rural rolling to Friday's semifinals.
In the Lady Blues' current five-game winning streak, Washburn Rural has outscored opponents, 284-147.
With the win, Washburn Rural will take on Derby in Friday's 7:30 semifinal, with Rural ranked No. 6 in 6A and Derby No. 3.
“Derby is awful good,'' Bordewick said. "We haven’t seen (Derby) yet, but I know they are very good and very tall.''
TOPEKA WEST DROPS 59-25 DECISION TO PANTHERS
The Lady Chargers fought hard in the first quarter against No. 3-ranked Derby Panthers, including 3-point shots by Siani Sanchez and Breya Bogart, before Derby pulled away for a 59-25 first-round win in the Lady Firebirds Winter Classic.
“All I asked from the girls was to compete and play hard,” said Topeka West coach Jeff Skar. “For the most part, we did that, especially in the first quarter.”
Derby took control with 20 points in the second quarter, with Jada Hopson, Maryn Archer and Naomi White combining for 18 points.
Derby’s up-tempo style of basketball was tough for the Lady Chargers to handle, including a scoreless third quarter from the Chargers.
“I’m not disappointed. We played hard. That’s a team (Derby) who’s phenomenal. (Derby) has a real good chance of winning the 6A state title. I really liked our effort, but we have to adjust some defensive things,” said Skar.
Jazmyn Ford led the Lady Chargers in points with 11 while Derby’s leading scorer was Archer with 17 points.
Skar has one thing he would love to carry over from Thursday night’s game into Friday 4:30 p.m. consolation contest against Leavenworth.
“Effort. As long as we play like that, we are going to be in a lot of games,” Skar said.
Derby coach Dan Harrison was pleased with the defense and hopes it can carry over to Friday's semifinal matchup with Washburn Rural.
“I’d like to carry over our defensive energy to tomorrow,'' Harrison said. "We jumped out early tonight and that was the difference in the game. Early on we were missing some shots, but because of our defense, we were able to make up a lot of them. We are going to have to play great defense against Washburn Rural tomorrow. They can make threes and they can play on every part of the floor.”
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 57, LEAVENWORTH 30
Leavenworth 4 6 8 12 – 30
Washburn Rural 17 15 9 16 – 57
Washburn Rural (10-1) – DeLeye 6 5-5 18, Krueger 4 0-3 9, Lutz 3 1-1 8, Ingram 3 0-0 6, Brogan 3 0-0 6, Canfield 2 0-0 6, Carlgren 1 0-0 2, Schuler 1 0-0 2.
Leavenworth – McLain 3 3-4 11, Wright 3 1-2 8, Gardner 1 4-4 6, Garrett 1 0-0 2, West 1 0-0 2, Thomas 0 1-2 1.
3-point goals -- Washburn Rural 5, Leavenworth 3. Total fouls -- Washburn Rural 11, Leavenworth 9.
DERBY GIRLS 59, TOPEKA WEST 25
Derby 18 20 17 4 – 59
Topeka West 11 7 0 7 – 25
Derby – Archer 6 3-5 17, White 8 0-0 16, Hopson 2 5-6 9, Smith 3 0-0 6, Boettjer 2 0-0 5, Wilson 2 0-0 4, Yager 1 0-0 2.
Topeka West – Ford 3 5-8 11, Sanchez 2 1-4 6, Duncan 1 0-0 3, Foster 1 1-2 3, Benson 0 2-2 2.
3-point Goals -- Derby 3, Topeka West 2. Total fouls -- Derby 17, Topeka West 10.
