Winning is at the top of Derby girls coach Daniel Harrison’s resume. Harrison has more than 100 wins in each of the college and high school ranks. 

Harrison is in his second season as the Panthers’ coach and fifth season at Derby High School. 

The Panthers have championship aspirations, just like every season. For Derby, it starts in the pool. 

“We utilize water workouts to strengthen our core and prevent injury to our legs,” Harrison said.  “We have to focus on continued improvement as a team each and every game, stay together as a group and focused on our team’s success, knowing that individual accolades will come.”

Derby goes as their outstanding four-star Iowa State commit, Addy Brown, goes. Everyone in the state knows it, and everyone in the state crafts game plans for the star night in and night out. 

“Every game plan always includes ways to maximize Addy’s ability to score and distribute the ball,” Harrison said. “We have players who can step up and make plays if teams only focus on stopping Addy. It is always a team game, and everyone has a job to do to help us win.”

Brown fills up the stat sheet every game, averaging 20.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a block.

Harrison and Brown know that she can’t do it alone and must do everything she can to make her teammates successful. 

The Panthers came into the season reasonably young. Brown is the lone senior, and Destiny Smith and Jaden Wilson are the two starters who had any experience from last year. Juniors Kyler Demel, Avery Kelley, Madison Smith and sophomores Kallie Rickords and Maliyah Lansang round out the rest of the rotation. 

“As a coach, you always have to deal with changes, whether it is through graduation, injury, family moves, military deployments or anything unexpected. That is why it is so important to always be preparing your younger players to be ready to step up and be part of the next team to continue the program’s success,” Harrison said. 

The Derby girl’s basketball program has been known for winning and being a powerhouse; Harrison and the players know that this comes with having a target on their backs. 

“The Lady Panthers’ long-term success has placed a ‘bullseye’ on us that seems to bring out the best in our league rivals,” Harrison said. “We always want to go into every game with this mantra: ‘respect every one of your opponents but fear none.’”

The Panthers enter the second semester at 5-1 and on a five-game win streak after dropping a tough one against a good Blue Valley Northwest team in the season opener.