Month: November 2021

Second half foils Blue Devils in weekend losses

The second half was no friend to Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils in this year’s annual Blue Devil Classic.

Ahead at halftime in each game, the Blue Devils dropped a 76-67 decision to Iowa Western Friday and then fell 75-69 to Link Year Prep Saturday. The losses dropped KCKCC’s record to 2-3 before taking on Des Moines Area, the defending NJCAA Division II national champion Tuesday in Boone, Iowa.

KCKCC led unbeaten Iowa Western 35-31 at halftime only to have the Reivers open the second half on a 17-2 run to vault to a 48-37 lead with 14:20 left. The Reivers were 7-of-10 during the pivotal run; the Blue Devils just one of nine as the Blue Devils could get only eight of 32 shots to fall in the second half, a chilly 25 percent. Meanwhile, Iowa Western heated up, knocking down 16-of-30 for 53.3 percent. Closest KCKCC could get the rest of the way was nine points with 4½ minutes left before the Reivers stretched their lead to 17.

The Blue Devils were led by Bryce Johnson, a 6-5 freshman forward from Lawrence who had 16 points; 6-3 Bahamian guard Joshua Dames with 15 points; and 6-6 sophomore Joshua Butler of Lee’s Summit West, who had 10 points. Jerry Maxinaud, a 6-6 freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had eight rebounds and 6-0 Shawnee Mission North guard Zach Nelson seven to lead the Blue Devils.

KCKCC bolted to a 32-15 lead in the first seven minutes against Link Year Prep, led 39-33 at halftime and didn’t give up the lead until the final 5:38 when the Lions went ahead 60-59. The Blue regained a 63-30 edge only to have Link Year Prep surge ahead 68-63 and then hold off two KCKCC rallies that closed to within three points in the final two minutes.

Four Blue Devils scored in double figures. Bradley Lightbourne, a 6-3 guard from the Bahamas, and Maxinaud had 14 points each while Dames added 11 and Butler 10. Zach Johnson had a big night directing the Blue Devils offensively, handing out a career high nine assists in 26 minutes. Maxinaud led in rebounds although the Lions had a 38-34 edge. Link Year Prep also had the better shooting night, knocking down 32-of-61 shots for 52.5 percent to 29-of-68 (.426) for KCKCC.

No. 7-ranked KCKCC women sweep No. 17 North Central, Metro

The smallest player on the floor proved to be the biggest for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s nationally ranked Lady Blue Devils Friday night.

Just 5-foo-5, third year sophomore Tiara Earnest not only paced all scorers with 20 points but led all rebounders with a dozen and added a game high four assists as the No. 7 ranked Blue Devils turned back No. 17 ranked North Central Missouri 67-60 in their toughest early season test.

The win came in the first round of the annual KCKCC Classic and the Blue Devils followed up with a 76-54 win over longtime rival Metropolitan Saturday night. The win was the fifth in a row for the unbeaten Blue Devils, who are right back in action Monday when they play host to Haskell junior varsity at 6 p.m.

De’Taria Guillroy added 11 points, Aysia Arrowood 10 and Mercer Roberts and Faith Putz 8 each for KCKCC. Arrowood also had five rebounds and Roberts and Guillroy four apiece as KCKCC had a 39-38 edge on the boards. More critical were free throws where the Blue Devils converted 19 of 27 (.704) to just 13 of 27 (.481) for North Central.

KCKCC trailed by as many as nine points late in the first quarter and still trailed 35-31 at the half. But the Pirates had no second half answer for Earnest, who scored 18 points including a trio of 3-pointers and seven of eight free throws.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with a 9-2 run to lead 40-37. The Pirates got back even at 46-46 before two Earnest 3-pointers and two Lacy Whitcomb free throws opened a 55-48 three-quarter lead. North Central went back ahead 56-55 but two field goals by Arrowood put KCKCC back in front 60-56 with a pair of layups and the Blue Devil defense took it from there, giving up only one field goal and two free throws in the final 4 ½ minutes. The Pirates did close to 60-59 before a rebound goal by Guillroy and four Earnest free throws sealed the win.

Four Blue Devils scored in double figures in the 76-54 win over Metro. Arrowood led with 15 points while Piper freshman Jennifer Guilbeaux added 12, Earnest and Putz 11 and Guillroy 8. Lacy Whitcomb led in rebounds with six although Metro dominated the boards 44-30.

KCKCC rushed to a 20-11 first quarter on 50 percent shooting and led the rest of the way. Metro was still within nine points 55-46 after three quarters before the Blue Devils finished with a 21-8 fourth quarter.

Legislative Committee anticipates 2022

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by Murrel Bland

The Legislative Committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce is looking ahead to the 2022 session of the Kansas Legislature in developing its legislative agenda.

About 25 members of the committee met Friday, Nov. 12, via Zoom.

The agenda will have many of the same issues as the legislative agenda for 2021 had, according to Mike Smallwood, the Legislative Committee chairman.

Those issues include support for continuing STAR bonds—a financing mechanism which uses sales tax revenue for major developments such as the Legends Outlet; streamlining of the permit process at the Unified Government; equitable rates for storm water control; consistent property tax that would use a several-year valuation average; high-quality education that would provide the necessary work force; expanded Medicaid for the underserved population; expanded gaming that would include sports wagering; lowering the sales tax on food; and origin-based sales tax.

The Kansas Legislature, which is Republican-dominated, has petitioned the Democrat Governor Laura Kelly to call a special session of the Legislature, starting Monday, Nov. 22. The Republicans are alleging that President Joe Biden is overreaching his administration’s authority in forcing Kansans to choose between their personal beliefs and their livelihoods.

The hope is that the session will pass two bills and be completed with its work before Thanksgiving, which is Nov. 25. Two bills have been proposed. One would prohibit employers from questioning the sincerity of a worker’s religious beliefs or medical needs; the other would provide unemployment compensation for workers who would be fired for refusing to get vaccinated.

State Rep. Pam Horton Curtis, a Democrat from the eastern part of Wyandotte County, said she doesn’t feel the special session is necessary.

It would appear that there may be a good chance that the sales tax on food could be removed. Republican and Democrat leaders say they would support the removal. A controlling factor is that the state has about a $1.3 billion surplus. Estimates are that revenue is expected to be about $10.96 billion as of July 1 with an ending balance of $2.89 billion. The governor said although there is enough money to take the tax off food, there is not enough revenue to bundle it with other tax cuts.

One of the issues will be the redistricting of congressional and state districts. The hope is that it can be done early in the legislative session so not to interfere with other legislative matters.

Murrel Bland is the past editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.