by Alan Hoskins
For the first time in history, both Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball teams are ranked in NJCAA pre-season basketball polls.
Ironically, both teams are ranked No. 20 as they prepare to play host at the annual Keith Lindsey Classic Friday and Saturday.
In opening round women’s play Friday, Labette will play Allen County at 2 p.m. and KCKCC will square off against Coffeyville at 6 p.m. while men’s action will send Highland against St. Louis Community College at 4 p.m. and KCKCC against Link Year at 8 p.m.
Women’s play Saturday will begin at noon with Labette playing Coffeyville. The Highland and Link men will battle at 2 p.m. with the KCKCC women meeting Allen County at 4 p.m. and the Blue Devil men facing St. Louis CC at shortly after 6 p.m.
Induction ceremonies for the KCKCC Athletic Hall of Fame will be held between the KCKCC games about 6 p.m. Saturday. The 2015 inductee is Alan Hoskins, KCKCC public information supervisor and sports information director for more than 30 years.
The KCKCC-Coffeyville women’s game is a re-match of last year’s game in which Coffeyville dealt KCKCC one of the Lady Blue Devils’ three losses in a 29-3 season.
“I’m sure our returnees are looking forward to it,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry, whose Blue Devils are unbeaten in five games this season.
A post-prep school in Branson, Mo., Link Prep is in its first season of collegiate basketball while St. Louis CC is returning for its second appearance in the Classic. Last year KCKCC escaped with a 78-70 win. Both St. Louis and KCKCC are coming off losses. Lewis and Clark defeated St. Louis while KCKCC fell 92-89 to Livin’ The Dream, a team made up of former college and professional players.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.