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Sporting KC opens regular MLS season tonight in LA

Two of the premier teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference from a year ago will lock horns in a high-profile 2019 curtain raiser on Sunday night at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

Hot off an emphatic defeat of Deportivo Toluca FC in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16, Sporting Kansas City visits Los Angeles Football Club for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

Sunday’s marquee matchup features a pair of teams that challenged for top spot in the West last season.

Led by 11th-year manager Peter Vermes, Sporting finished at the summit with an 18-8-8 record and set all-time club bests for goals (65), assists (69), goal difference (plus-25) and shots (583).

LAFC placed third, going 16-9-9 to become the fifth MLS expansion side to reach the playoffs in their inaugural campaign. Both clubs suffered narrow defeats in the postseason, Sporting falling to the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Championship and LAFC losing to Real Salt Lake in the Knockout Round.

As the script flips to 2019, Sporting KC enters the first weekend of March riding a wave of momentum. Vermes’ men earned a dominant 5-0 aggregate win over Toluca in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16-setting a 57-year tournament record for largest aggregate win by an MLS club over a Liga MX outfit-and travel from Central Mexico to Southern California with hopes of continuing their winning ways.

Forwards Gerso Fernandes and Krisztian Nemeth scored in both matches against Toluca, while a backline anchored by center backs Matt Besler and Andreu Fontas limited the Red Devils to zero shots on target in Thursday’s second leg at Estadio Nemesio Diez.

High confidence may be what buoys Sporting this weekend, but the team’s mettle will be tested by an immensely demanding travel schedule.

Vermes’ side flew from Toluca to Los Angeles on Friday and will take a 3,000-mile flight from Los Angeles to Panama City on Monday ahead of next week’s Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Independiente in La Chorrera, Panama.

Sporting’s depth will likely be on display as the squad copes with the demands of three away games in three different time zones in three separate countries – all in the space of a single week.

LAFC has lofty expectations of its own after a successful 2018 debut. Its 57 points last season were the most ever by an expansion team as three different attackers – Carlos Vela, Adama Diomande and Diego Rossi-hit double-digit regular season goals.

The prolific three paced LAFC to a conference-best and expansion-team record 68 goals behind the leadership of head coach and former U.S. Men’s National Team manager Bob Bradley.

Vela, an ultra-talented Mexican international, led the way with 14 goals and 13 assists in his first MLS campaign, but the LAFC roster boasts a wealth of additional threats. Playmaker Lee Nguyen and forward Christian Ramirez join Diomande and Rossi up top, while MLS veterans Walker Zimmerman, Steven Beitashour and Jordan Harvey patrol a defense that will aim to improve from last year’s lukewarm showing.

Sporting KC swept the 2018 series between the clubs and were the only team to defeat LAFC twice. This included a 2-0 win at Banc of California Stadium in Aug. 11, 2018, which remains LAFC’s only regular-season home loss to date. Fernandes and midfielder Ilie Sanchez scored in the victory as Sporting extended its impressive run in the state of California: Vermes’ men are 5-0-2 in the Golden State since June of 2016, scoring 13 goals while allowing only three.

The return fixture at Children’s Mercy Park took place on Decision Day last fall. In a pivotal regular-season finale on Oct. 28, 10-man Sporting struck through Roger Espinoza and Daniel Salloi to overcome Vela’s second-half penalty kick and prevail 2-1 to secure a first-place finish in the West.

Sunday’s primetime battle pits two of the most successful coaches in league history. Bradley (140) and Vermes (133) rank first and second, among active coaches in all-time regular season coaching wins. They place fourth and fifth on the all-time charts, with Vermes’ 11-year reign making him the longest-tenured manager in MLS.

Story from Sporting KC

KCKCC one win from national tourney on last-second goal

Nija Collier got an escort from team captain Camryn Swanson (12) and Caroline Hoppock (21) and other teammates after her 3-point field goal with 1.8 seconds left gave KCKCC a 79-76 overtime win over Johnson County Saturday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Only sophomore forward Kisi Young (20) was visible as KCKCC students stormed the court for the first time in college history to celebrate the Blue Devils 79-76 Region VI semifinal tournament win over Johnson County Saturday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Thanks to the greatest clutch 3-point shooting in KCKCC history, Kansas City Kansas Community College is one win away from a return to the NJCAA Women’s Division II national tournament.

In a script right out of Hollywood, Caitlyn Stewart forced overtime and Nija Collier hit the game winner with 1.8 seconds left in a dramatic 79-76 overtime win over Johnson County Saturday in arguably the best game ever played in the KCKCC Field House – so good that Blue Devil students stormed the court for the first time.

Billed as a battle of national heavyweights, it was all of that and a whole lot more – 16 ties and 11 lead changes in a classic shootout that saw both teams shoot better from the 3-point than the game. JCCC made 11-of-25 treys for 44 percent; the Blue Devils (27-4) drilled a whopping 17-of-38 for 44.7 percent on a day both teams shot 39 percent from the field.

Historically, it was KCKCC’s first-ever 3-game season sweep of the Cavaliers and the 100th career win for fourth-year Blue Devil coach Joe McKinstry. His bid for No. 101 will come Tuesday against No. 6 ranked Highland (24-4) in the Region VI championship game to be played at 5 p.m. in Hartman Arena in Park City just north of Wichita. At stake, a berth in the national tournament in Harrison, Arkansas, March 19-23.

The drama of the shootout left McKinstry in something of a daze.

“There were so many big plays and big shots I can’t remember them all,” McKinstry said. “It was crazy.”

Let’s start in overtime. Two free throws and a field goal by Lexy Watts and Lenaejha Evans’ 3-pointer out of the corner gave KCKCC a 72-69 lead with 2:29 left only to have JCCC go back in front 73-72 on a pair of short-range goals.

Collier quickly got the lead back with her fifth 3-pointer and Stewart made it 76-73 with one of two free throws with 38 seconds left only to have JCCC’s K.K. Jackson-Morris tie it with the most improbable of shots, a 3-pointer that hit the front of the rim, bounced high off the backboard and dropped through with 17 seconds to go.

More often than not, game-winning plans go astray. Not this time. Stewart got the ball to Collier at the right edge of the key and Nija’s 3-pointer was dead center with 1.8 seconds left.

“Coach told me to take a three; I wanted to take it,” Collier said.

“I thought it was the best chance to get an open look,” confirmed McKinstry. “We had been struggling to get open and not doing well inside. And Caitlyn did a great job of running Nija’s guard off to get her a good look.”

Stewart liked the call.

“I’ve got confidence in Nija shooting,” she said.

It would never have gotten into overtime had it not been for Stewart, the 5-5 sophomore playmaker from Wichita Maize not known for her shooting. Just 17 of 56 3-pointers for 32 percent in 27 games, Stewart was a perfect 3-for-3 from 3 in the fourth quarter.

KCKCC trailed 53-46 early in the fourth quarter before Stewart quick-started a 9-0 run with her first trey and Collier put KCKCC in front 55-53 with a three and three free throws.

The Cavaliers twice opened 3-point leads in the final four minutes only to have Stewart and Collier regain ties each time with clutch treys. But it was JCCC with a 65-61 lead with 22 seconds left as the Cavaliers went to the foul line four straight times, converting one of two free throws each time to leave just enough room for KCKCC to catch up.

After making one free throw, a second by KCKCC’s Lillie Moore was knocked out of bounds by JCCC and Stewart made the most of it with a step-back game-tying 3-pointer with 10.4 seconds left and JCCC could not get off a shot.

“I’m a sophomore and knew I had to step up and lead. It was exciting,” said Stewart, who finished with 10 points – all in the fourth quarter and overtime – and led in assists with five.

Equally important was her defensive effort against JCCC sharpshooter Jacionna Stowers, who led the Cavaliers in scoring but needed 18 shots for 18 points including 3-of-8 3-pointers.

“That’s the sixth or seventh straight game Caitlyn has guarded the other team’s best offensive guard; she busted her tail off and Lexy Watts did a good job when she relieved her,” McKinstry said.

Collier led the way with her 20th double of the season – 25 points and 11 rebounds, both game highs. Her help came from many sources. Evans had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists and her three first half treys helped KCKCC lead 37-36 at halftime. Caroline Hoppock and Watts added eight points each, Moore six points and seven rebounds, Kisi Young five points, five rebounds and four assists and Camryn Swanson five points.

The 17 3-pointers tied the KCKCC record for second most ever and were very much a part of the game plan.

“We talked a lot in our preparations and knew we had to make shots from the outside,” McKinstry said. “Their defenders were clogging up the middle and we had to do a couple of things different. We had to step up and knock down shots and Nija was 6 of 12, Lenaejha 4 of 8 and Caitlyn 3 of 5.”

Hoppock added two treys and Swanson and Moore one each to rally KCKCC from an early 25-17 deficit.

In addition to Stowers’ 18 points, Jackson-Morris added five threes and 15 points and Brandi Thibeaux 12 points for JCCC, which finished 27-5.

“They’ve got a top-notch program and a great coach, quite honestly the kind of program we aspire to be,” McKinstry said. “Of my 100 wins, these sophomores have accounted for 48 of them and I’m so thankful to have them. I hope everyone feels ownership of the 100 wins. They’ve put us in the position we’re in.”

If you missed Kansas City Kansas Community’s exciting and dramatic 79-76 overtime win over Johnson County (or you want to see it again), the game can been seen in its entirety on the KCKCC.edu website on your personal computer. Go to KCKCC.edu and click on menu, scroll down to and click Athletics, then to women’s basketball and scroll down to the KCKCC-JCCC game March 2 and click on video. Also, Tuesday’s Region VI championship game will be shown at 5 p.m. on the KJCCC website.

Not only did Caitlyn Stewart send the game into overtime with three fourth-quarter 3-pointers but this pass past JCCC’s Paige Elson (22) resulted in one of her game-high five assists in KCKCC’s 79-76 win over the Cavaliers Saturday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Braves beat Broncos, 72-56, head to state

Bonner Springs senior guard Keyon Thomas grinned as he held the championship plaque for the substate tournament. The Bonner Springs boys’ basketball team earned a berth in the state 5A tournament with a win over Spring Hill. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Conference opponents Spring Hill and Bonner Springs met again in the substate tournament final on Saturday evening in Bonner Springs. The Braves held off a late rally from the Broncos to win 72-56 and earn a trip to the 5A state tournament in Emporia.

Bonner Springs surged out to an early lead, getting good results from drives by senior guards A.J. Watson and Keyon Thomas.

The Braves’ defense also limited the inside opportunities for Spring Hill’s 6-foot-8 center John Frakes, who lit up the Braves for over 30 points when the teams met in February.

The Braves held a 17-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter, and 35-19 at the end of the half.

Bonner forward Ethan Byers got the crowd chanting his name in the third quarter with a gutsy run of play. Byers took a charge on a Spring Hill drive (his second of the game), then earned a free throw at the other end on a drive of his own. He followed that up with a sliding dive cross-court after a loose ball, a 3-point basket, and an assist.

When the fourth quarter began, Bonner Springs looked like they might pull out to a 30-point lead, which would require that the game clock run without stopping. However, Spring Hill took advantage of some questionable ball-handling by the Braves to narrow the margin.

The Broncos scored 25 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers by Ryan Weber and 11 points from Brennen Feeback. The deficit was too large and the time too short to stage a bigger comeback.

Thomas led the Braves with 28 points, and Watson knocked in 14, including 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Nasjon Porter scored 10.

The Braves will face off with Wichita’s Bishop Carroll High School in the first round of the 5A state tournament. The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.