by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Lady Blue Devils made free throws when they needed them most Saturday.
Leading hard-charging Fort Scott 55-52, the Blue Devils converted seven of eight foul shots in the final 1:26 for a 62-56 win that boosted KCKCC’s Region VI record to 3-1 and overall mark to 14-6.
The win also set up a pivotal first round collision with league-leading Labette Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Winner of six in a row, the Lady Cardinals (19-3) are the only unbeaten team in regional play at 4-0 followed by Johnson County at 4-1 and KCKCC and Highland, both at 3-1.
KCKCC never trailed Saturday, opening a 33-21 halftime lead and taking a 47-34 bulge into the final quarter. However, the Blue Devils managed just 3 of 12 field goal attempts the final period and made none after the 6:25 mark. The three came after Fort Scott had closed to 47-41 – a 3-pointer by Alix Wilson and layups by Valencia Scott and Brie Tauai to re-open the lead to 54-41 with 6:25 to go.
The Lady Greyhounds turned to long range shooting to close the gap. Four of Fort Scott’s final five field goals were 3-pointers, the next-to-last by Nessi Walters that closed the deficit to 55-52 with 2:15 p.m. remaining and set up a controversial finish. Ky’Ana French was fouled on a defensive rebound, Fort Scott protested and drew a technical foul. Millie Shade made two free throws on the technical and French one to re-build the lead to 58-52 with 1:26 left and KCKCC stayed safely in front on two free throws each by Scott and Brooklyn Wagler.
Scott led the Blue Devils with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Millie Shade added 14 and Brie Tauai 11. Fort Scott won the rebound battle 42-36 as Wagler, French and Wilson had four each. KCKCC built its 33-21 first half lead on 41.7 percent shooting but managed just 7-of-28 second half for 28 percent and held on by forcing 13 of the Greyhounds’ 20 turnovers in the final two quarters.
“I’m happy to be 3-1 in region play and come away with a win against a very good and well-coached Fort Scott team,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “But we’ve got to understand that we are not the type of team that can relax on the defensive end because we will get easy baskets. Scoring is sometimes difficult for us so we have to do a better job of rebounding and getting stops. Those are things that don’t take any talent, it’s simply the will and desire to do what our needs and do a better job.”