Month: January 2020

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils went on their biggest scoring rampage of the season Thursday but not before surviving a spectacular long-range aerial assault.

Saint Mary’s junior varsity knocked down nine 3-point goals in just 15 attempts (.600) and had a 5-point lead with three minutes left in the first half before the Blue Devils surged to a 112-70 win. In a game of two halves, KCKCC needed a late flurry to gain a 44-41halftime lead, then held the Spires without a 3-pointer in 15 tries the second half.

“We’ve got to be able to put two halves together and be more consistent,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “I think we have been overlooking our opponents. We have to realize we have to play hard against every team we play.”

The Blue Devils scored a season high 68 points in the second half on 67.5 percent shooting (27-of-40). Defensively, they forced 27 Saint Mary turnovers which resulted in 42 points.

Seven Blue Devils scored a dozen or more points led by freshmen Deron McDaniel and Jaemaal Newman. Newman recorded his first double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while McDaniel just missed a double-double with 19 points, nine assists and four steals.

Ezekiel Lopes added 18 points, Jermaine Yarbough 16, Calvin Slaughter 13 and DeAngelo Ball and Jalen Davis 12 apiece. Three of Yarbough’s seven field goals came on thunderous dunks while Slaughter had three treys and Lopes and McDaniel two each.

Trailing 37-32 with three minutes left in the half, KCKCC went ahead at the break 44-41 on a 3-pointer and a layup by Davis in the final 25 seconds, then broke the game open in the first two minutes of the second half. Yarbough ignited a run of nine straight points with a pair of short range goals, Slaughter drilled a 3-pointer and Ball added a layup for a 53-41 lead and it was never close again.

“We picked up the pressure, sped them up so they couldn’t get good shots,” Burgette said.

The second half included 18 assists on 27 field goals and a season high 29 for the game. In addition to McDaniel’s career high nine, Slaughter and Bell had five and Davis four.

“The guys stepped up when their numbers were called,” Burgette said. “The second half we were unselfish. We were selfish the first half.”

The 67.5 percent second half shooting enabled the Blue Devils to finish with 44-of-79 for 55.7 percent. They also led in rebounding 41-37. In addition to Newsom’s 10, Yarbough had six rebounds, Tim Barbieri and Slaughter five and Lopes four.

The Jayhawk Conference race is next up for the Blue Devils (7-11), who open play at Labette Wednesday and host Hesston Saturday, Jan. 25. Weather forced postponement of KCKCC’s scheduled home game with Park University junior varsity today. That game has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.

Police vehicle accident reported
A police officer was backing out of a driveway about 2:03 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in the 8300 block of Georgia and struck a vehicle, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. There was minor damage to both vehicles. No one was injured.

Unlawful sexual incident reported
Police received a report about unlawful sexual relations from about two years ago, according to a social media post by police. The victim made a disclosure to the reporting party, according to the report. The information is limited at this time.

Shooting reported on North 31st
A shooting into an occupied dwelling was reported at 5:40 p.m. Jan. 16 in the 1900 block of North 31st Street, according to a social media post by police. A victim heard glass breaking and falling, according to police. The victim looked outside and found his glass front door had been shot and damaged, police reported.

Police pursue speeding vehicle
Police pursued a speeding vehicle about 5:42 p.m. Jan. 16 in the 1800 block of Wood Avenue, according to a social media post by police. Police attempted to stop a vehicle that fled, and police then pursued the vehicle. After a short distance, police terminated the pursuit, according to the report.

Police find counterfeit bill
Police officers found a counterfeit $50 bill on the ground around 9:09 p.m. Jan. 16 in the 10800 block of Parallel Parkway, according to a social media post by police.

They reviewed a video and located a suspect that dropped the bill, according to police. Officers then found a second suspect who was buying property with another counterfeit bill, the report stated. The suspects were taken into custody.

Vehicle robbery reported on North 41st
Aggravated robbery was reported at 4:35 in the 1900 block of North 41st, according to a social media post by police.

The victim told police he was going to give the suspect a ride, according to the report. The suspect entered the victim’s car, and then another suspect approached and pointed a gun at the victim, according to the report. Both suspects took the victim’s vehicle and left the area, according to the report.