Month: March 2016

In their first national tournament game in school history, the Blue Devils matched up with South Suburban who came into the game averaging nearly 95 points per game. Blue Devil head coach Kelley Newton knew it would be a tough task but said his players would be prepared.

In the first half, it was a slow start on the offensive side for both teams. Jonathan Murray made the first field goal for the Blue Devils three minutes into the game. Murray continued to lead the way through most of the first half helping the Blue Devils to an 8-point lead with six minutes to go in the first.

South Suburban went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 22-22 with three minutes left in the first. The Blue Devils answered when after almost four minutes without a bucket, Mike Lee Jr. made a shot.

“Every time South Suburban went on a run, we answered.” Newton added. To end the half, Murray knocked down 3 free throws to lead 27-24 at the break.

In the beginning of the second half, neither team could pull away with a lead. With 16 minutes to go in the game, it was tied 31-31, and South Suburban went on a 10-2 run to take a small lead. Once again the Blue Devils had an answer and shrunk the deficit in half.

South Suburban kept pushing the pace and trying to take over the game but the KCK defense kept them in check. As the game started to wind down, the Blue Devils had come back and were only down 3 with just under three minutes left in the game. Armoni Shorter came up big with a 3-point jump shot to tie the game at 50-50.

With two minutes left in the game, Joe Lendway missed on a crucial second chance opportunity. South Suburban drove down and made a shot to go up 52-50. After a Blue Devil turnover, it turned into a free throw shooting contest and South Suburban hit them all to win the game 57-50.

“South Suburban is a great team and we held them to 57 points, we didn’t lose because we weren’t prepared, we just need to make more plays,” Newton said. The Blue Devils moved into the consolation bracket and played Cecil College at 1 p.m. today, dropping that contest, 80-67.

“It was good to get this game in and feel what the national tournament is like,” Newton said.

– Story from Jason Browar, KCKCC

Opening round of the Division II Women’s National Basketball Tournament started Wednesday morning for the Lady Blue Devils (29-3) against Waubonsee Community College (26-7).

The first quarter started off slow for both teams but the Blue Devils fought back from an 8-2 deficit to lead 14-12 at the first break.

“I’m glad our girls fought through their nervous and played style after the first quarter,” said head coach Joe McKinstry.

Halfway through the second quarter the Blue Devil attack took its usual form and set the tone offensively. Erin Anderson led the way with 11 first half points and added 7 rebounds to go along with her offense. Brooklyn Wagler contributed 7 points herself to help the Blue Devils go in to the half up 37-26.

The second half was all about defense for the Blue Devils, holding Waubonsee to 52 percent shooting on only 21 shots. The Chiefs committed 28 turnovers in the game with 15 of them in the second half.

“Our pressure on the defensive end of the floor was great in the second half and it (was) very difficult for Waubonsee to get much going offensively,” McKinstry added.

The Blue Devils stretched their lead as big as 21 in the game. Anderson led the charge, finishing with 20 points, Wagler finished with 13, Aricca Daye added 14 of her own, and off the bench Brie Tauai added 9 points en route to a 19-point victory over Waubonsee 72-53.

“In a tournament like this, the first win is always the toughest to get,” McKinstry said.

The Lady Blue Devils (30-3) will face Owens Community College (27-6) from Perrysburg, Ohio, at 8 p.m. Thursday March 17, at Johnson County Community College.

– Story and photo from Jason Browar, KCKCC