by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Rapid firing Kansas City Kansas Community College scored 21 points in 4½ minutes to propel the Lady Blue Devils to a 114-67 win at Hesston Saturday.
The win was the 19th in 22 starts for the Blue Devils, who return home this coming week to play host to Fort Scott Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and No. 3 ranked Highland Saturday at 2 p.m.
Leading 11-10 with 4:30 left in the first quarter, the Blue Devils scored on nine of the next 10 possessions, knocking down 9-of-11 shots in the game-breaking rampage. The 21-7 run opened a 32-17 first period lead and it was never close the rest of the way.
Sophomore Kisi Young was the catalyst in the early surge with six field goals. Nija Collier added a basket and 3-pointer and Lillie Moore a field goal. Together, the trio combined for 60 points and 30 rebounds.
Young finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds; Collier 20 points and 10 rebounds; and Moore a game high 23 points but just missing a double-double with nine rebounds.
Freshman guard Caroline Hoppock provided the outside punch with career highs of five 3-pointers and 16 points. The Blue Devils finished with 11 3-pointers. In addition to Hoppock’s five, Brodi Byrd had three and Camryn Swanson, Carson Chandler and Collier one each.
Six Blue Devils scored in double figures with Byrd and Lenaejhe Evans adding 11 points each. Evans had four assists and Moore three to lead the way.
“A good job by our girls in getting back on track after a disappointing loss to Labette Wednesday,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “Offensively our execution was very good all night long and getting the shots that we wanted. Again balanced scoring and a great job of rebounding the ball, particularly on the offensive end.”
The Blue Devils knocked down 44 of 85 field goal attempts for 51.8 percent while limiting the Larks to 22-of-66 attempts (,333) and dominating the rebounding, pulling down 27 off the offensive boards in controlling the boards 54-36.
“At halftime I challenged the girls on taking care of the ball (10 first half turnovers) and I thought they did a great job with just five turnovers in the second half,” McKinstry said. “I also didn’t like that we gave up 23 points in the third quarter so I was very pleased with our defensive effort in the fourth (12 points).”
In other Jayhawk action Saturday, No. 1 ranked Johnson County won at Fort Scott 65-57 while No. 3 Highland escaped Labette 74-72 at home. On Monday, JCCC will play host to Highland at 5:30 p.m. in a makeup of their snowed-out game Wednesday.