Month: November 2017

Down 22, big Blue Devil rally falls short in 70-69 loss

KCKCC freshman Sterling Hicks goes high over Park’s Camron Roustic to score two of his 19 points in the Blue Devils’ 70-69 loss Monday night. Teammate Tyson Beringer (35) waits for a possible rebound. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young Blue Devils dug themselves a hole from which they could not quite dig their way out Monday night.

Trailing by 22 points with just over 14 minutes remaining, the Blue Devils almost caught up – but not quite, losing a 70-69 thriller to Park University’s “Development Squad.”

“We’re a young team and it showed tonight,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “We got exactly what we needed. We’ve got to grow up. This can only make us better. But all the credit to Park. They really did a good job of putting us through the grind with their tight guarding.”

The Blue Devils now have three days to get ready for this weekend’s annual Keith Lindsey Classic when the Blue Devils play host to Link Year Prep Friday at 8 p.m. and North Central Missouri Saturday at 6 p.m. It’s also KCKCC Athletic Hall of Fame weekend with Mike Hinkle and Greg Wells to be enshrined Friday between KCKCC’s women’s and men’s games (about 7:30 p.m.).

Shooting 54.8 percent from the field and forcing 11 Blue Devil turnovers, Park built first-half leads of up to 17 points and led at the half 41-27, then widened it to 52-30 and the deficit was still 22 points when 6-3 guard Sterling Hicks came off the bench to ignite the Blue Devils’ rally with three quick field goals including a pair of 3-pointers.

Solomon Thomas, who scored 12 points in the final 4:19, got the Blue Devils to 56-53 with 4:19 left but Park took advantage of an intentional foul and technical foul to rebuild its lead to 62-53 and then held on through the play of Vince Phillips. A 6-5 sophomore, Phillips had two baskets and four free throws in the final 3:45 including a clinching free throw with four seconds to go.

Hicks and Thomas shared scoring honors with Phillips, each with 19 points, but no other Blue Devil had more than three field goals. Defensively, Arother Ratliff had six rebounds and 6-9 Tyson Beringer five rebounds and five blocked shots.

Free throwing hurt the Blue Devils, who were just 6-of-15 from the line. However, they were 16-of-29 from the field in the second half (55.2 percent) including 4-of-7 3-pointers.

KCKCC Drama Club to present ‘Speech & Debate’

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Drama Club is presenting “Speech & Debate” later this week, a play directed by a KCKCC student.

Written by Stephen Karam, “Speech & Debate” follows three teenage misfits in Salem, Ore., who discover they are linked by a sex scandal that has rocked their town.

When one of them sets out to expose the truth, secrets become currency, the stakes get higher and the trio’s connection grows deeper. The play does have adult situations, and parental guidance is advised.

“Speech & Debate” is at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 10 and 11. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 12. All performances are in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and non-KCKCC students. All KCKCC students, staff and faculty are admitted free with valid identification.

“Speech & Debate” is a Drama Club production, directed by student Gary Enrique Bradley-Lopez in his first full play directorial debut. In addition to serving as president of the KCKCC Student Senate, he was also the Monster in KCKCC’s most recent production of “Young Frankenstein.”

“These actors are great and have been committed to this play, so that it can be a great show for the school and community,” Bradley-Lopez said. “This play deals with a lot of controversy and hits issues, especially those that are currently on our TVs, about people who are in the spotlight involved with sexual allegations.”

The cast includes- Brittany Zarco, Diwata; Oscar Alvarez-Alonso, Solomon; KazereJake Villegas, Howie and Ka’Nesha Sutherlin, Teacher-Reporter.

For reservations or more information about “Speech & Debate,” call 913-288-7106.

Project celebrates 71 years of helping veterans tell their stories through writing

Dr. Jon Kerstetter (Photo by Nicole Kerstetter)

Veterans Voices Writing Project, a national organization based in Kansas City, Mo., will observe its 54th annual Veterans Pen Celebration and Fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at The National World War I Museum and Memorial at 2 Memorial Drive in Kansas City, Mo.

The event is open to the public, and there is no admission charge.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Jon Kerstetter, will discuss his recently published memoir, “Crossings: A Doctor-Soldier’s Story,” which details his experiences in war-torn Rwanda, Kosovo and Bosnia and his three tours in Iraq at the height of the fighting.

In his autobiography, Kerstetter also details the stroke he had at the peak of his career that ended his profession as a physician. Left with serious cognitive and physical disabilities compounded by post-traumatic stress disorder and excruciating pain, Kerstetter began his years-long recovery using writing about his experiences as a way to help him order his thinking, reform vital brain connections and ultimately heal.

Highlights of the annual celebration also will include:

• Greetings by Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James, who was a Marine military police officer for four years in California, the Philippines and Japan during the Vietnam War.

• Entertainment by members of Arts & AGEing KC, who will present stories and poems from the pages of Veterans’ Voices magazine.

• Recognition of VVWP supporters and Veterans’ Voices authors.

• A book table for guests who want to purchase Kerstetter’s “Crossings: A Doctor-Soldier’s Story,” books by Veterans’ Voices authors and other books by veterans, courtesy of Eve Brackenbury of Inklings Book and Coffee Shoppe in Blue Springs, Mo. Dr. Kerstetter, Clint Jarrett, Bruce McClain, K.W. Peery and Lou Eisenbrandt will be available to autograph their books.

Since 1946, VVWP, publishers of Veterans’ Voices magazine, has offered therapeutic writing to veterans in communities and in Veterans Administration health facilities across the United States with support from writing aides and writing groups. In 1952 the organization published the first issue of Veterans’ Voices magazine and continues to publish veterans’ stories and poems in three issues each year.