by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Easily over its opening hurdle Friday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young women’s basketball team gets a much tougher test Saturday when the No. 1 ranked Lady Blue Devils play host to St. Louis Community College at 4 p.m.
Roaring to a 29-12 first quarter lead, the Blue Devils overwhelmed Graceland University’s junior varsity 93-49, using speed and quickness to offset less that spectacular shooting.
Shooting just 36.7 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from 3-point, the Blue Devil defense forced the Yellowjackets into 37 turnovers that were converted into 42 points.
“We were awful,” said a disappointed KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “The biggest message I have out of this game is that ‘I told you so.’ We have to do a better job of scoring the basketball; it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve been telling our players they need to work on their games away from practice, shooting, ball-handling, things we’ve done so well the last few years. We got all the shots we wanted tonight, open shots that we didn’t knock down. If we don’t do better tomorrow, we’re in a world of trouble.”
The Blue Devils entered the game with just 10 healthy players and McKinstry gave all extended playing time. All 10 scored and all but one had at least one rebound.
Five KCKCC players scored in double figures, none of whom stood taller than 5-foot-6. A pair of 5-5 guards led the way, sophomore transfer Destiny Zamudio from Malcolm X in Chicago scoring a game high 16 points and freshman Adoreya Williams of Detroit 14.
Truman sophomore Brodi Byrd and freshman Tiaira Earnest of Detroit added 11 points each and Jada Mayberry of Kapaun Mt. Carmel 10. Kamryn Estell, the one 6-footer on the Blue Devil roster, chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.
Alieyya Jones, a 5-9 freshman from Lincoln, Nebraska, led in rebounds with 11 along with eight points while Earnest and 5-11 Mercer Roberts of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each added nine rebounds and 5-7 Aliyah Myers eight rebounds. Myers also led in assists with six with Byrd and Earnest adding four each.
KCKCC had 63 rebounds including 33 off the offensive boards.
“The 33 offensive rebounds are a little misleading being we missed 62 shots and had so many chances at rebouds,” McKinstry said. “I did like the 23 assists on 36 baskets and considering we had 98 shot attempts, theoretically just 15 turnovers is pretty good. Our ability to handle and share the ball are positive points, things we can build on.”
The Blue Devils were 12 of 23 shots from the field for 52.2 percent the first quarter but were under 30 percent in the second and third. They were also just 11 of 48 from 3-point with Zamudio and Byrd the leaders with four and three.