by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
The team that showed up the second half in a 63-43 win over Missouri Valley JV Monday will be sorely needed as Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women head into the most physically demanding part of their schedule.
Down to just eight healthy players because of injury, the Lady Blue Devils are faced with three games in three days and four in six as they begin Jayhawk Conference play.
Because of a weather postponement Saturday, both Blue Devil teams will open conference action at Hesston today and then return home against Washburn JV Wednesday with starting times of 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. both days. The busy week then resumes Saturday when Brown Mackie comes to KCKCC for the final time for 2 and 4 p.m. games. Brown Mackie will no longer compete in basketball after this season.
The Lady Blue Devils will get a lift today with the expected return of 5-11 sophomore guard Millie Shade for limited duty with hopes that leading scorer Brie Tauai will be able to return Saturday.
KCKCC needed a big second half against Missouri Valley. Held to just two points the first five minutes, the Blue Devils led just 27-26 at halftime thanks in part to a dozen turnovers and 20 percent shooting from three-point. However, the defense tightened up in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers and limiting the Vikings to 20.6 percent shooting in a 36-17 final two quarters.
“We certainly showed how bad we can be in the first half followed by how good we can be in the second,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “Our effort and energy turned up a lot in the second half and led to some easy baskets. When you slow down the game by playing a zone defensively, it puts more pressure on you on the offensive end because you don’t get as many possessions, So getting some steals, rebounding and limiting the opposing team to one shot can open up the floor and lead to easy baskets and we were finally able to take care of that.”
The Blue Devils were led by a pair of double-double performers. Brooklyn Wagler led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds while Ky’Ana French had her first double-double with 12 points and a game high 11 rebounds. Aeriel Holiday added 13 points including three 3-pointers and five rebounds off the bench.
Alix Wilson had four assists and Kayla Horn three as KCKCC had 14 assists on 23 field goals but the Blue Devils were also guilty of 20 turnovers and 20.8 percent shooting from three-point (.418 on all shots).