by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Passing their first big test with more ease than expected, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young Lady Blue Devils take their high-geared show on the road for one of the most challenging weeks of the season.
Thanks to an 85-63 win over St. Louis Community College Saturday, the No. 1 nationally ranked Blue Devils play Washburn University junior varsity in Topeka Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Last year, the Ichabods were one of only four teams to defeat KCKCC.
Then it’s on to the Kirkwood Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Friday and Saturday for what may be billed as the NJCAA Division II “Game of the Year.”
KCKCC will take on Southwestern of Creston, Iowa, on Friday and then go head-to-head with No. 2 ranked Kirkwood Saturday. Kirkwood won the 2018 national championship.
The Blue Devils used an aggressive defense and fast-breaking offense for their 85-63 win over St. Louis. After four ties and three lead changes in the opening minutes, KCKCC opened a 21-15 first quarter lead, stretched it to 48-33 at halftime and led by as many as 24 in the second half.
Belton freshman Kamryn Estell’s double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds and an all-around performance by veteran Brodi Byrd led the way.
Byrd had 21 points, five rebounds and a game high seven assists. Guard Destiny Zamusio added 10 points, Jade Mayberry and Adoreya Williams 8 each and Alieyya Jones 7. Jones also had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals; Diamond Williams nine rebounds and four assists; and Mercer Roberts eight rebounds in 13 minutes before fouling out.
Trailing 67-46 after three quarters, St. Louis made one late charge, closing to within 11 points with 5:20 remaining but Alieyya Jones blocked a shot, Byrd made a pair of 3-pointers and Estell a layup to rebuild the lead to 19.
“I thought Brodi Byrd did a great job, one of her best,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “While we struggled a lot in the area of making 3-point shots (8-of-32), Brodi shot with confidence (5-of-10) which was good to see. And Kamryn Estell did a great job closing the door on our help side defensively along with grabbing 10 rebounds and making 10 of 13 shots from the field.”
In addition to the 13 steals, the Blue Devils had a 52-43 rebound edge on the taller Archers and limited them to just 21-of-71 shots for a chilly 29.6 percent.
“It looks like we run around a lot but there is method to our madness,” McKinstry said. “Defensively, we executed well, recognizing the spots where we needed to be. No. 3 (Ronne’zja Elliott) had 25 points for St. Louis and is a really good player but it took her 24 shots so she had to earn it.”
McKinstry was also happy with 22 assists on 35 field goals.
“People tell me how scrappy and hard we play but we really have done a great job sharing the basketball, driving the ball to the basket and getting it to a teammate,” McKinstry said. “And as fast as we played and as many attempts we had, we had just 14 turnovers, most of which are easily correctable.”
Three members of KCKCC national championship teams were on hand for the game – Brooklyn Wagler, who was the lone freshman starter on the 2016 title team; and NJCAA DII Player of the Year Nija Collier and all-time 3-point leader Cam Swanson of the 2019 team.
Collier and Swanson are juniors on this year’s Central Missouri team; Wagler completed her basketball career at Mid-America Nazarene.
