Month: November 2017

KCKCC women set two records in opening wins

Freshman Camryn Swanson drains one of her three 3-point field goals in KCKCC’s record barrage of 17 3-pointers in a 108-33 win over Graceland junior varsity Thursday night. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Just two games into the 2017-2018 season and Kansas City Kansas Community College’s very young women’s basketball team has already started an assault on the record book.

Kisi Young, a 5-9 freshman guard from Magnolia, Ark., scored 29 points in an opening 75-69 win over North Central Missouri in Trenton Wednesday night, the most points ever scored by a Lady Blue Devil in a first game.

And 24 hours later, the Lady Blue Devils knocked down a record 17 3-point goals in a 108-33 cruise past Graceland University’s JV in the home opener.

“Graceland did a good job of making things difficult for our bigs but after a stale start, our zone offense really clicked and we began to fire on all cylinders,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “I knew Graceland had scouted us Wednesday when we rebounded well and I knew they would pack it in (defensively). So we just shot a lot of threes.”

KCKCC is home again Monday, hosting Saint Mary’s junior varsity at 5 p.m. followed by a Blue Devil men’s game against Park University’s junior varsity at 7 p.m.

Eight Blue Devils had 3-point field goals against Graceland. Sophomore Ally Lollis and freshman Camryn Swanson led with three each. Alix Wilson, Ashley Daniels, Caroline Hoppock, Tyrionne Martin and Miya Ford added two apiece as they combined for 17 3-pointers in 41 attempts for 41.5 percent.

KCKCC led 57-13 at halftime behind 55.6 percent shooting and finished with 48.8 percent.

Nine Lady Blue Devils had eight or more points with Hoppock, a freshman from Olathe East, leading the way with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Ford and Swanson added 13 points, Daniels 12, Lollis 10, Young and Nija Collier 9 and Martin 8.

Collier, a 6-0 freshman from Detroit, had a big night on the boards, leading all rebounders with 14, her second double digit night in two games.

Lillie Moore and Young added nine each as KCKCC controlled the rebounding 62-30. Caitlyn Stewart, a 5-5 freshman from Wichita Maize South, led in assists with six as the Blue Devils had 29 assists on 39 field goals.

“This team has the capability to make shots when given the opportunity and I was very pleased with our assist numbers; it really speaks well to the unselfishness of this group,” McKinstry said. “They all contributed and were very excited for another. It was fun to watch.”

The Blue Devils had to come from behind in the 75-69 win at North Central. Trailing 51-49 entering the final quarter, KCKCC pulled away with a 24-16 fourth quarter finish.

The Blue Devils were led by a pair of freshmen from Magnolia, Ark. Kisi Young added 11 rebounds to her 29 points (12-of-20 shooting) while 6-1 forward Lillie Moore had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Alix Wilson was the only other Blue Devil in double figures with 10 points on 3-of-5 3-pointers while Collier led all rebounders with 12.

“A great win for us to start the season,” McKinstry said. “We had chances to give in and we showed a lot of fight so I was very proud of that. North Central returns two outstanding players and is well coached. Kisi Young took over in the second half and would not let us lose and Lillie Moore and Nija Collier were great on the boards. Caitlyn Stewart played all 40 minutes and held North Central’s leading scorer (Kendey Eaton) to 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting.” Sarah Lamp led the Lady Pirates with 24 and 11 rebounds.

Surrounded by KCKCC’s Alix Wilson (23), Ashley Daniels (15) and Ally Lollis (0), Graceland’s Kailey Boden had to get rid of the ball in the Lady Blue Devils’ 108-33 win Thursday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Central Avenue plans Day of the Dead parade Saturday evening

Central Avenue is planning a Day of the Dead parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, following a week of celebrations.

The parade will travel from 6th and Central to 16th and Central.

Edgar Galicia, executive director of the Central Avenue Betterment Association, said the Day of the Dead celebration, also known as Dia de Muertos, started Nov. 1 on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, as several offerings or private altars were created in the Mexican tradition. The celebration of Day of the Dead, an international event, is traditionally around the same time as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The holiday is celebrated every year in other areas of the world, and it will be the first time it has been celebrated with a parade on Central Avenue, according to Galicia. The event focuses on family and friends who gather to remember friends and family members who have died. Traditionally, items that the deceased had enjoyed are placed at the altars.

Galicia said different points along Central Avenue have offerings or private altars available for viewing. Some of these locations are Chicago’s bar, 534 Central; the Balloon Shop, a party goods store at 541 Central; Marquez Boots, 848 Central; Rip Bravo Super Market, 11 S. 10th St.; Free Wheels for Kids, 1264 Central; Central Avenue Dental, 1320 Central; El Torito Supermart, 1409 Central; Dalia’s Belleza, 798 Central; and Fronteras Super Market, 761 Central.

The offerings will be available for viewing between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the four days the event is held, and there will be a contest for the best one.

The closing of the ceremony will be at 3 p.m. Saturday. The event on Nov. 4 will include live music and street vending along the Central Avenue route, Galicia said.

At 4 p.m. there will be live music at four stages, one at 16th Street, one at 10th Street, one at 12th Street and one at 14th Street and Central, he said.

At 5 p.m., an expected 20 floats will line up at 6th and Central for the parade, which starts at 6 p.m., he said. In the Day of the Dead theme, those on the floats will portray joyful souls who come back to parade through the streets. Typically, those in the parade may wear skeleton masks and old-style clothing, he added.

Besides the floats, there will be a fire-eater, a queen of the parade, participating businesses and families, he said.

Galicia said about 3,000 people are expected for the parade Saturday. There will be a lot of parking in the Bethany area near 12th and Central, and there is off-street parking open around the parade, he said. “Bring comfortable shoes, you’re going to be walking,” he added, to visit all the locations of the event.

“There is quite a bit of interest in social media, reaching out to us,” he said. “The majority are coming from our community, but at least 40 percent will be visitors from other parts of the metro,” he added.

“What we want to show the whole metro is our community is coming back, our community is very strong, and we’re very welcoming to everyone in the metro,” Galicia said.

Besides Central Avenue, another Day of the Dead celebration is planned in Kansas City, Kansas, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St. It is for all ages. An altar will be decorated for loved ones who have died, there will be pan de muerto and refreshments, and performers will sing and dance. There are also craft projects planned.

Dramatic 8-7 shootout win has KCKCC one win from national

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College is one win away from the NJCAA Division I national soccer tournament thanks to the most dramatic and important win in Blue Devil history Thursday night.

Sophomore goalkeeper Youssef Gadelkerim’s diving deflection of the 11th shot of a shootout gave the Blue Devils an epic 8-7 win over Rose State College of Oklahoma in semifinal action at Topeka’s Hummer Field.

The win sends KCKCC into today’s championship game against Ranger (Texas) College at noon, a game that will be streamed live and available on video on the KJCCC website (www.kjccc.org). Ranger also had to go to a shootout to beat Barton County 5-3 after the two teams had battled to a 1-1 tie.

KCKCC and Rose State also fought to a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Guilherme Grave put the Blue Devils ahead 1-0 with a shot from the top of the box over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Owen Wheeler at the 24:25 mark of the first half only to have Rose State get even on a penalty kick by Ala Ramadan at 39:51.

The shootout came after two scoreless 10-minute overtimes in which the Blue Devils had five shots on goal to only one for Rose State. In fact, KCKCC dominated most of the game, firing 19 shots on goal to only four for Rose State

The Blue Devils took command in the overtime, jumping to a 3-1 lead on goals by Ricardo Angelo, Gustavo Palmeiri and Giovanni Calderon but Grave had a shot hit the top of the crossbar and Frano Buhovac missed wide and the Raiders rallied to tie 3-3 and force sudden death.

Shooting first, Leonardo DaSilva put KCKCC ahead 4-3 but Christian Balderas pulled Rose State even before the Raiders missed their one chance for the win as both KCKCC’s Brajan Huyke and Rose State’s Julio Hernandez missed.

The Blue Devils were rocked solid the rest of the way as Pa Ousman Jobe, Mario Sandoval, Emmanuel Hernandez and Angelo pounded shots in to the back of the net. It was the second shootout goal for Angelo and proved to be the winner when Gadelkerim’s diving deflection of Ramadan’s bid for a third goal brought the entire Blue Devil squad swarming over the KCKCC goalkeeper.