HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawk girls basketball team showed great effort Thursday night against Derby at the Salthawk Activity Center, but came up a little short. Derby pulled away late in the final quarter to win 52-45.
Both teams jumped out red hot to start the contest with Derby leading 10-9 in the early minutes of the first quarter. It was the final two minutes of the quarter that had Hutch chasing the Panthers for the remainder of the game.
Derby went on a 7-0 run over that stretch in the game to lead 17-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers held on to a 28-23 lead at the half as well as having a five point lead 41-36 going into the final period.
Hutchinson trimmed the lead to two late in the contest, but Derby found a way to answer every Salthawk run.
Grace Posch let the Salthawks with 17, followed by Kaia Smith's 13 point effort. Azariah Dawes added nine and Rachel Tomac scored four. Kolbie Craft added a late free throw for her only score.
Derby's Macayla Askew led the Panthers with 17, Jaden Wilson had a strong fourth quarter to add 11. Carsen Carpenter came off the bench to add3 as did Madison Smith. Destiny Smith was in double fiqures with 12. Karlie Demel scored four and older sister Kyler Demel added two late free throws for her only two points.
Hutchinson (9-6) will travel to Maize Friday while Derby (12-2) will host Newton.