CHEROKEE, Kan. — Kennedy DeRuy poured in 32 points and the top-seeded McAuley Catholic girls basketball team rolled to a 57-28 win over eighth-seeded Southeast on Monday night in an opening-round contest of the 2022 Lancer Classic.
The Warriors, who improved to 12-2, were short-handed for the game, as Kayleigh Teeter is out with a knee injury and Avery Eminger missed the game due to an illness.
“We played with five girls for all but three minutes of the game,” McAuley coach Mike Howard told SoMo Sports. “We only had six on the bench. I’m so proud of the girls for gutting it out and giving me their all. They had to dig deep in this one. KD put us on her back on the offensive side and all the girls played good defense.”
DeRuy had a big night, as the senior guard made 12 field goals, including six 3-pointers, to go with two free throws for 32 points. She outscored the opposition by herself.
Also for the Warriors, Lily Black had nine points, Kloee Williamson contributed eight points, Avery Gardner had five and Kendall Ramsey chipped in three points.
McAuley led 31-13 at the half and the Warriors were up 49-23 entering the fourth quarter.
The Warriors advanced to the tourney’s semifinals with the lopsided win.
McAuley, ranked fifth in Class 1 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, will take on fifth-seeded Erie at 7 on Thursday night. Erie topped fourth-seeded Riverton 33-29.
In other tourney action, third-seeded College Heights suffered a 43-40 setback to sixth-seeded Columbus.
The Cougars were without Addie Lawrence. CHC coach John Blankenship also missed the game due to an illness.
With the loss, the Cougars (4-5) will meet seventh-seeded Baxter Springs at 5:30 on Thursday in the consolation semifinals.
Thursday’s other semifinal will feature Parsons vs. Columbus at 8:30 p.m.
The Lancer Classic’s boys tournament is set to begin on Tuesday.
