by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College went over the century mark for the second time this season Saturday in a 106-39 win over Ottawa University’s junior varsity but it was the Blue Devil defense that set the tone for the win.
The visiting Braves were held to just four first half field goals. While no such records are available, the four field goals are believed to be the fewest ever allowed for one half – one less than the five given up in the second half in a 53-50 loss to unbeaten Southwestern Iowa just a week ago.
“I’m just happy with a win,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “”We’ve had a couple of tough losses and needed to know how it feels to win again. This team is so young with so many freshmen that it needs to learn how to play with focus and consistency.”
Newton used 13 players in the game and all but one scored.
Freshman Daijon Taylor led with a double-double, 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting along with a game high 10 rebounds, while sophomore Arother Ratliff just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Tama Johnson added 14 points including 11 the first half and Calvin Slaugher and Jalen Davis chipped in with 10 each.
The Blue Devils shot 54.5 percent for the game; 60 percent in a 62-point second half.
KCKCC dominated the rebounding 52-28 while forcing 25 turnovers.
Four Blue Devils, Kelyn Bolton, Andre Boykins and Taylor each had four of the 28 assists on 42 field goals. KCKCC also blocked four shots, two each by Taylor and Ratliff.
KCKCC raced to an 11-2 lead in the first eight minutes, stretched it to 21-6 at the nine minute mark and then ran off 21 straight points for a 42-11 lead before the Braves notched their fourth goal with 2:20 left in the half.
“We got some stops and rebounded well and that set the tone,” Newton said. Ottawa’s four first half goals came on 27 shots for 14.8 percent.
The Blue Devils (3-7) now go on the road the coming week, playing at Washburn junior varsity in Topeka Monday at 7 p.m. and State Fair in Sedalia Saturday, also at 7 p.m.
