by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College dug a hole from which the Blue Devils could not escape in their pursuit of first ever Jayhawk Conference and Region VI championships Saturday.
Spotting Highland a 17-point lead in the first 11 minutes of play, the Blue Devils clawed their way back within three points but could never get the baskets necessary to prevent a 63-56 setback.
The loss snapped a 5-game KCKCC winning streak and left the Blue Devils (7-2) just one game ahead of Highland (6-3) and two games ahead of Johnson County (6-4) and Fort Scott (5-4) in Region VI play heading into the final three games of the season. KCKCC closes out at Fort Scott Wednesday and Labette Saturday before finishing at home a week from Wednesday against Johnson County while Highland hosts Brown Mackie and Fort Scott before closing at Labette.
In Jayhawk Conference play, however, KCKCC (3-2) trails Highland and Fort Scott, both of whom are 4-2. Just five teams compete for the Jayhawk title. Neither Hesston nor Brown Mackie are in the conference. Both KCKCC losses have come at the hands of Highland.
KCKCC didn’t get its second field goal of the game until the 9:03 mark of the first half and by then the Blue Devils were trailing Highland 21-4. Shooting 55.6 percent from the field, the Scotties led 36-22 at halftime and maintained a double digit lead until the Blue Devils made two closing rushes.
The first came after Highland had built a 45-28 lead in the second half. Three Mike Lee field goals including a 3-pointer and a trey and two free throws by Kellen Turner trimmed the Blue Devil deficit to 45-40 with 13 minutes left.
The second came five minutes later. Two field goals and two free throws by Jon Murray and a 3-pointer by Turner cut the Highland lead to 51-48 with 5:34 left but the Scotties quickly rebuilt the lead to seven and the closest the Blue Devils could get was 60-56 before going scoreless the final two minutes.
“Highland played well,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “In a nutshell, they played harder, were more aggressive, rebounded better and beat us to all the loose balls. It was very disappointing, especially on Sophomore Day, that we didn’t come out with more energy and play better. That’s my fault, allowing it to happen. We’ve got to make sure not to let it happen again.”
Murray, who leads Region VI in rebounding, led the Blue Devils with a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Turner added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Mike Lee and Donald Metoyer each chipped in with eight points and three assists.
Despite 1-of-10 shooting to start the game, the Blue Devils finished with 21-of-49 for 42.9 percent but they were without their usual 3-point offense. Limited to just 10 3-point tries, they made three while the Scotties were converting a half dozen – all in the first half – and shooting a crisp 50 percent overall. Four Scotties scored in double figures led by Stephon Jackson’s 21 points.