Month: March 2019

Several KCKCC women’s basketball records set this year

KCKCC will lose seven sophomores off its national championship team, front row, from left, Kisi Young, Nija Collier, Lizzie Stark, Camryn Swanson, Lillie Moore, Caitlyn Stewart and Lexy Watts. Returning with coach Joe McKinstry, standing left, and assistant Timeka O’Neal, right, are Lenaejha Evans, Brodi Byrd, redshirt Diamond Williams and Caroline Hoppock. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College didn’t rewrite the record book in winning the NJCAA DII national championship but the Blue Devils sure wreaked havoc with it.

Seven Blue Devils wrote their names into all-time Top 10 statistical categories headed by record breakers Kisi Young and Camryn Swanson.

Young shot a torrid 63.9 percent from the field after shooting 60.7 percent as a freshman while Swanson knocked down the most 3-point field goals ever (87) and tied the all-time career record 3-point record with 128.

A third all-time best was tied by redshirt freshman Caroline Hoppock, who had eight 3-pointers and set a new standard for accuracy, making 8-of-11.

Nija Collier, the Most Valuable Player in the Jayhawk Conference and the national tournament, wrote her name into 14 scoring, rebounding and shooting categories.

Lillie Moore climbed into the Top 10 in nine categories and Young five. Both joined Collier as All-Jayhawk, All-Region and All-National Tournament selections.

As a team, the Blue Devils finished in the Top 10 in 10 categories including second in total points (3208), third in scoring average (89.1), 3-point goals (9.3) and 3-point attempts (27), fourth in field goals per game (31.9) and free throws a game (16,0); fifth in offensive rebounds (32.2) and assists (18.7); eighth in field goal percentage (46.8); and ninth in rebound margin (13.9).

The 3208 field goals, 89.1 scoring average, 336 3-point goals and 1737 rebounds are all-time KCKCC bests as are the 20 3-point goals scored against Hesston. The individual highlights:

Sophomores

Kisi Young – Second on the list of the most accurate shooter in history (60.7) as a freshman, Young moved up to No. 1 this year at 63.9 percent. Second in rebounding (8.7) and fourth in scoring (10.6) this season, Young leaves as the sixth career rebound leader (571), ninth in career field goals (359) and 10th in career scoring (842).

Camryn Swanson – Her 87 3-point goals in one season are an all-time best and she tied Sierra Robert for threes in a career (128). Her seven threes in a single game are also the second most, Averaging 8.6 points a game, Swanson had 11 games with four or more treys.

Nija Collier – Sixth on the all-time single season scoring list (622), she finished seventh on the career point list (938), eighth in scoring average (17.3) and eighth in career average (14.4). The team leader in rebounds (9.7), Collier finished fourth in career rebounds (607) and eighth for one season (293). In addition, she departs fourth in single season free throws (144), sixth in career free throws (216)), fifth in field goal percentage for one season (58.5) and in 3-point percentage (.400); sixth in career blocked shots (96) and 10th in field goals in one season (217) and career (359).

Lillie Moore – Second in team scoring (14.7) and third in rebounding (8.1), Moore finished second in career free throws (242) and fifth in a season (136). Sixth in career scoring (938 ) and 10th in career scoring average (14.1), she’s No, 12 in scoring for one season (528) and in field goal percentage (53.0) and No. 9 in career rebounds (537).

Caitlyn Stewart – A two-time team leader in assists, Stewart finished ninth on the all-time assist list (239). Second in the Jayhawk in assists (3.2), she averaged 5.4 points and 2.8 rebounds.

Lexy Watts – A transfer from Neosho County playing her first season, Watts stepped in and finished third in the conference in assists (3.0) while averaging 4.8 points in a valuable backup role.

Lizzie Stark – Playing in all 32 games as a freshman, she averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds and vaulted to No. 12 on the free throw accuracy list (77.8) only to suffer a pre-season injury which limited her to 11 games this season.

Freshmen

Lenaejha Evans – Finished third in scoring (11.2) and second in total assists (106) while averaging 4.3 rebounds and shooting 49.0 percent from the field. Started 32 of 36 games and was named to All-Jayhawk third team.

Brodi Byrd – Her 76 3-point goals are the fourth most in history and ninth on the career list. No. 11 in 3-point shooting percentage (.345), Byrd averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds while making 32 starts.

Caroline Hoppock – Tied the KCKCC record with eight 3-pointers against Fort Scott and established record for accuracy at .727 by making 8-of-11. Her 59 3-point goals are No. 7 on the all-time list. A redshirt freshman after suffering season-end injury last year, Hoppock averaged 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists

Carson Chandler – Joined team for second semester, playing in 14 games. Made 6 of 13 3-point attempts for 46.2 percent.

Weather: Strong storms, flooding continues today

Strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The Missouri River at Parkville, which covers the Wyandotte County area, is still in moderate flood stage this morning, although it is declining. Additional rainfall is expected to aggravate ongoing flooding all along the Missouri River, according to the weather service.

Also, there is flooding possible in low-lying areas as rain totals range from 1 to 2 inches today and tonight, mostly south of I-70, the weather service said.

The rain will end around 1 p.m. Saturday, and then there is a chance of frost on Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to the weather service.

Today, there is a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 51 with a northeast wind of 8 to 10 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain are possible.

Tonight, there is a 90 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then showers are likely, according to the weather service. The low will be around 39 with a north wind of 9 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain are possible.

Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., with a high near 44, the weather service said. A north wind will be from 13 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Saturday night, widespread frost is possible after 4 a.m., with a low of 26, according to the weather service. A north wind of 6 to 11 mph will gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday, there will be widespread frost before 8 a.m., the weather service said. It will be sunny with a high near 50 and a north wind of 3 to 5 mph.

Sunday night, it will be clear with a low of 31, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny with a high near 56, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 38, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 63, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 46, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers with a low of 48, according to the weather service.

Thursday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a high near 63, the weather service said.

New Highway Patrol superintendent comes from KCK

Herman T. Jones

Shawnee County Sheriff Herman T. Jones II, from Kansas City, Kansas, has been named the next superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, assuming command on April 3.

According to a news release from Gov. Laura Kelly, Jones served from 1982 to 1992 as a state trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol, and from 2000 to 2011 he was the KHP director of administration.

He served as Shawnee County undersheriff in 2011 and was named Shawnee County sheriff in April 2012. He was subsequently elected to the sheriff’s position in 2012 and 2016.

Jones attended the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, including Northwest Junior High and Wyandotte High School, where he graduated in 1976.

He then attended Emporia State University, where he took a job as a dispatcher while a student. Subsequently he became a student night guard, and later a campus police officer.

He also was an officer with the Emporia Police Department and has been a police instructor at the University of Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

“Sheriff Jones has 40 years of impressive and diverse law enforcement experience,” Gov. Kelly said in the news release. “He has worked in municipal, county, and state law enforcement and he has been a leader in law enforcement training and education. Sheriff Jones is the right person to lead the Kansas Highway Patrol at this critical time.”

Jones was honored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools in its Reasons to Believe program in 2013.

“I’m honored to be selected by Governor Kelly to serve in this important law enforcement position,” Jones said in the news release. “I’ve dedicated my career to public safety and look forward to again working with the women and men of the Kansas Highway Patrol to strengthen our agency and improve public safety across Kansas.”

Jones is a graduate of Emporia State University, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy, and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.