After flying high against the Lawrence Free State Firebirds last Thursday, the Derby Panthers came back down to earth. Derby fell 62-55 to McPherson on Friday. While losing is never fun, Derby can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 68th, while McPherson is ranked fifth).
Derby lost despite a true team effort on the offense, the best among them being Kaden Franklin, who dropped a double-double on 13 points and 11 rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Franklin has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Mason Anderson, who scored 15 points along with six rebounds.
Derby's defeat dropped their record down to 4-4. As for McPherson, they pushed their record up to 11-0 with that victory, which was their tenth straight at home.
Derby won't have much time to rest: their next game is against Blue Valley on January 20th. McPherson won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against Hutchinson at 3:45 p.m. on January 20th. Hutchinson will be looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.
