Iowa Western broke open a tight defensive battle late in the first half on the way to a 77-54 win over Kansas City Kansas Community College Tuesday night in Council Bluffs.
The win was the ninth in a row for the Reivers (9-1), a perennial NJCAA Division I powerhouse while KCKCC fell to 2-7 heading into a home game with Ottawa University junior varsity Saturday at 4 p.m.
The Blue Devils held a 9-8 lead with 10:30 left in the first half only to have Iowa Western score the next 10 points and finish the half on 30-7 run and lead 35-16 at the break.
Rebound domination was a big factor as the Reivers gave up only one offensive rebound in controlling the boards 25-12.
Iowa Western also was 14-of-33 from the field for 42.4 percent while limiting KCKCC to six field goals in 24 attempts for 25 percent.
The Blue Devils battled back in the second half. Outscored just 42-38, the Blue Devils forced 11 turnovers and shot 37.5 percent.
The 77 points equaled the fewest scored by Iowa Western this season. Shooting 50 percent from the field, the Reivers came into the game averaging 93 points per game.
Calvin Slaughter led KCKCC with 14 points and five rebounds. Kelyn Bolton added 10 points, Daiyon Taylor seven points and three assists; Cody Dortch six points on a pair of 3-pointers; and Andre Boykins five points. All are freshmen.
Projected increase in the number of days above 100 degrees (National Climate Assessment graphic)
by Brian Grimmett, Kansas News Service
Kansans can expect rising temperatures and more extreme flooding in the future, according to the latest National Climate Assessment.
Kansas has always experienced severe weather events. But as average temperatures rise, due in part to heat-trapping pollution released from fossil fuels, these severe weather events are predicted to become more extreme.
That means periods of drought will be more severe, while storms will be more intense and lead to greater flooding.
This cycle of long periods of drought followed by intense rainstorms will also create a greater risk of wildfire on Kansas rangeland.
So even though wildfire is a natural and regular occurrence, the conditions in the future will mean it’s more likely these fires will burn faster and hotter and cover more territory.
While past droughts have been driven by climate variability, or natural changes that fall within observed ranges, climate change is likely to make the problem worse.
The report also predicts that by the end of the century, average temperatures in Kansas will rise as much as 4 degrees and the number of days above 100 degrees will increase by 20 to 30.
The impact of those changes will create winners and losers, both in ecosystems and among cities and states.
“Some plants will do great, some crops will do great in a warmer environment,” said Kevin Kloesel, lead author of the report’s chapter on Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. “And then some won’t.
“So the question is, who will be the folks that will transition economically to those things that will do better first?”
The report predicts that if people do not adapt to or mitigate the risks associated with climate change, agricultural production will decrease, commodity prices will rise and human health, especially among the elderly, will suffer.
While Kansans are already adapting to some of the changes brought on by climate change, Kloesen said it’s mostly reactionary.
“It’s very hard to be proactive, sort of looking into the crystal ball, because there’s always that seed of doubt,” he said. “ ‘OK, is that really going to happen? And did I do that needlessly?’ ”
To have a greater impact, the report suggests individuals and communities need to make decisions based on possible future scenarios and do what they can now to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Brian Grimmett, based at KMUW in Wichita, is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a statewide collaboration between KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.
Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to the original post.
Temperatures should rise today above freezing by midday, according to the National Weather Service.
The temperature was 28 at 9 a.m. and may rise to 39 today in Wyandotte County, according to the weather service forecast. The wind will be from the southeast at 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight, the low will be around 30 with a southeast wind of 5 mph becoming light and variable after midnight, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 43 and a light and variable wind, the weather service said.
Thursday night, the low will be around 30 with a northeast wind of 3 to 5 mph, according to the weather service.
Friday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers after noon, the weather service said. The high will be near 48 with an east wind of 5 to 9 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.
Friday night, there is a 90 percent chance of showers, with a low of 43, according to the weather service. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.
Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 50, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 33, according to the weather service.
Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of rain and snow before 7 a.m., then a chance of rain, the weather service said. The high will be near 41.
Sunday night, the low will be around 28, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 36, the weather service said.
Monday night, there is a 30 percent chance of snow, with a low of 26, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 35, the weather service said.
