MEET THE TEAM
One of the more mind-boggling state tournament droughts in the area belongs to Derby. How has a school of that size, with that amount of talent, been unable to play at state for the last 16 years? It's a question that stumps second-year coach Brett Flory. He feels like he is obligated to get this team back to playing for the state title in Koch Arena this March.Derby probably should have been there last year, after running the table in Division I and winning the first-ever undefeated league title in the school's history in Flory's first season. Although the Panthers ultimately fell short, it was an important moment for the program. The Panthers now expect to win. They're playing a fun style of basketball, scoring a lot of points, winning a lot of games and, most importantly, Flory has instilled expectations back into the program.
Last season the Panthers leaned heavily on Kyler Steadman, who has since graduated. Replacing him won't be an option, but expect Derby to be more than capable to spread out his responsibilities across the starting lineup. Derby will be more balanced, but just as potent offensively this season. In Steadman's absence, expect 6-foot-7 senior post Josiah Ray and 5-foot-9 senior guard Taylor Schieber to split leading scorer duties this season.
Ray has developed a reliable scoring game from the post and should have his best offensive season in his senior year. He's always been effective rebounding and shot-blocking, but expect him to become a complete player this season. Schieber is a guard that can simply score the ball. He can really stroke it from beyond the arc and has the quickness to beat his defender to the hoop in his well-rounded game. Those two will score a lot of points this season in Derby's high-flying, high-tempo act on offense.
Another season at varsity will benefit sophomore Papi Conley the most. He was raw last season and suffered some freshman setbacks. But this year expect a more polished ball handler and someone that can run Derby's offense exactly how Flory wants. Tyler Chambers gives Derby another potential mismatch with his 6-foot-4 frame floating around the perimeter and Jeremy Dunham should provide another scoring threat on the perimeter once he regains his legs from football season. This should be of the most potent offensive teams in the area because there's so many individual scorers on this team and Flory says he thinks it's an even better shooting team than last season.
But everyone knows about Derby's scoring ability. That's not in question. What is in doubt is how well the Panthers can defend in games when they go up against great teams. Last season Derby never proved it could win the big game and fell short of the state tournament. This season the Panthers have the potential to be great. Flory is really emphasizing defense in the early-going for Derby, but it will have to prove it can come up with a stop when it needs one. If it can do that, then watch out - this might be one of the top teams in the area and the state.
MEET THE CAST
#40 | JOSIAH RAY | POST | 6'7" | SENIOR
Will now shift into more of a scoring role in Derby's offense, doing most of his work from the low blocks. He's always been an above-average shot-blocker and rebounder, but this season he will expect to showcase a blossoming offensive game complete with a steady array of post moves.
#32 | TAYLOR SCHIEBER | WING | 5'9" | SENIOR
Has the potential to be an elite scorer, despite his diminituitive size. He's a natural shooter and has deadly range, but also a quick enough first step to get by his defender and score on mid-range jumpers or on drives.
#34 | TYLER CHAMBERS | WING | 6'4" | SENIOR
He prefers to float around the perimeter, but will probably see most of his time defending the post because of his size. Has a nice shot and is athletic for his size and can present a mismatch for Derby if the opposition guards him with a big.
#15 | PAPI CONLEY | POINT | 6'2" | SOPHOMORE
Was thrown into the fire last season as a freshman at point guard and had a streaky rookie season. Plays high-level AAU ball and that should be noticeable this season, as Conley should be more comfortable running the show as a creator with the ability to also score if needed.
#12 | JEREMY DUNHAM | WING | 5'11" | JUNIOR
An effective scorer off the bench last season, but played a ton of meaningful minutes. Could see action as a starter or as 6th man, but his role will be a scoring punch around the perimeter and a reliable ball handler to go with Conley.
#20 | DYLAN HUNTER | WING | 6'1" | SENIOR
After not seeing much time last season, he will get a big bump up in the rotation as a senior. Could see starter's minutes because of his shooting ability and gives Derby yet another zone-buster threat.
#33 | ZACH OSBORN | POST | 6'5" | SENIOR
The glue guy inside for Derby, the senior will see plenty of minutes because he's not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work. Should be an outstanding rebounder for the Panthers and even score some just because he creates so many second-chance opportunities.
#04 | PAUL THEIS | POINT | 5'9" | SENIOR
Another reliable shooter in the stables for Derby that will see time behind Conley at the point guard spot. He didn't see a ton of time last year, but should figure heavily into the rotation this season and be a reliable second option at point.
Will now shift into more of a scoring role in Derby's offense, doing most of his work from the low blocks. He's always been an above-average shot-blocker and rebounder, but this season he will expect to showcase a blossoming offensive game complete with a steady array of post moves.
#32 | TAYLOR SCHIEBER | WING | 5'9" | SENIOR
Has the potential to be an elite scorer, despite his diminituitive size. He's a natural shooter and has deadly range, but also a quick enough first step to get by his defender and score on mid-range jumpers or on drives.
#34 | TYLER CHAMBERS | WING | 6'4" | SENIOR
He prefers to float around the perimeter, but will probably see most of his time defending the post because of his size. Has a nice shot and is athletic for his size and can present a mismatch for Derby if the opposition guards him with a big.
#15 | PAPI CONLEY | POINT | 6'2" | SOPHOMORE
Was thrown into the fire last season as a freshman at point guard and had a streaky rookie season. Plays high-level AAU ball and that should be noticeable this season, as Conley should be more comfortable running the show as a creator with the ability to also score if needed.
#12 | JEREMY DUNHAM | WING | 5'11" | JUNIOR
An effective scorer off the bench last season, but played a ton of meaningful minutes. Could see action as a starter or as 6th man, but his role will be a scoring punch around the perimeter and a reliable ball handler to go with Conley.
#20 | DYLAN HUNTER | WING | 6'1" | SENIOR
After not seeing much time last season, he will get a big bump up in the rotation as a senior. Could see starter's minutes because of his shooting ability and gives Derby yet another zone-buster threat.
#33 | ZACH OSBORN | POST | 6'5" | SENIOR
The glue guy inside for Derby, the senior will see plenty of minutes because he's not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work. Should be an outstanding rebounder for the Panthers and even score some just because he creates so many second-chance opportunities.
#04 | PAUL THEIS | POINT | 5'9" | SENIOR
Another reliable shooter in the stables for Derby that will see time behind Conley at the point guard spot. He didn't see a ton of time last year, but should figure heavily into the rotation this season and be a reliable second option at point.
FROM COACH FLORY
"The biggest thing for this team that we're already talking about all the time is playing defense and being tough. We feel like we can probably score on just about anybody, but against the really tough teams that we have to beat to get to state, scoring isn't going to come easy. At the end of the day, we're going to have to really defend at a high level. And that's going to be our focus."
THE PREDICTION
It's looking like the talent and the arrival of Flory is perfectly coinciding. He knows how to handle it and the Panthers should once again be a 15-16 win team in the regular season. But to get over that hump, Derby will have to prove it can defend. Not a lot, but just enough to win and grind out wins over tough teams. I think in Flory's second season Derby will be able to do that. I expect another league title and I would not be surprised in the least if the Panthers end their 16-year drought.
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