By Brad Hallier
There are no more undefeated boys basketball teams in Class 6A, and there could be a new top-ranked team in Kansas’ biggest classification next week. Not just in boys, but in girls as well.
Hutchinson provided two surprise results on Friday in Derby, as the girls first beat the top-ranked Panthers 58-54, and then the boys handed Derby its first loss, 67-63.
In the girls game, the Salthawks scored a season-high 58 points, which was also the second most points Derby has allowed this season. The Salthawks led throughout too, taking an early 15-8 lead. The lead was 30-26 by halftime but the Salthawks ballooned the lead to 46-37 after three quarters.
Kaia Smith led Hutchinson with 22 points, and Grace Posch scored 15 points.
The win improved Hutchinson to 10-5, keeping the Salthawks in contention for a top-eight seed in the Class 5A West substate, which would guarantee a first-round home game.
The boys followed suit with an equally impressive performance. THe 67 points were the third most Derby has allowed this season.
In a tight contest throughout, Lamar Govain had his best performance of the season, scoring eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
The Salthawks improved to 7-8 and they have won three straight since a mid-season seven-game losing streak.
Hutchinson remains in 12th place in the substate standings but with five games left and games in hand on most of the teams around, there is ample time for Hutch to move up.
