by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Lady Blue Devils wasted no time in putting the finishing touches on wrapping up a home playoff berth Saturday.
Knocking down 9 of their first 10 shots, the Blue Devils bolted to a 21-3 lead on the way to a 98-53 win over Fort Scott. The win improved their overall record to 23-5 and evened their Jayhawk Conference record at 4-4 with two games to go.
KCKCC closes out its home season against Highland Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and the regular season Saturday at Johnson County (2 p.m.) before playing host to a first-round Region VI playoff game against either Fort Scott or Hesston on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Everyone contributed in the win over Fort Scott. All 11 Blue Devils had assists, all 11 had rebounds. Ten scored and eight had steals.
“We really shared the ball well, 25 assists on 36 field goals and only 11 turnovers,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “I thought we did a great job of executing. We called a lot of plays and everyone was in the right place.”
All five starters were in double figures led by Kamryn Estell and Brodi Byrd. Estell scored 20 points on sizzling 8-of-9 shooting and had five rebounds while Byrd had a big double-double line of 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds along with five assists and three steals.
Playing in her next to last home game, Byrd knocked down her 123rd 3-point goal, just five short of the KCKCC career record.
The Blue Devils’ other two sophomores were also in double figures. Caroline Hoppock had 11 points and six rebounds and Destiny Zamudio 10 points and five assists.
Aliyah Myers also had 11 points, Jada Mayberry nine, Mercer Roberts eight, Tiaira Earnest and Adoreya Williams six each and Diamond Williams four.
Myers and Hoppock ignited KCKCC’s 21-3 start with back-to-back 3-pointers. Estell contributed two field goals, Byrd a trey and Zamudio, Roberts and Hoppock a layup each in the torrid start that took just over 4½ minutes.
“I really liked our energy starting the game,” McKinstry said. “It was something we didn’t do Wednesday so I was really pleased with that.”
Playing at Hesston last Wednesday, the Blue Devils scored just 16 points the first quarter, 89 the last three periods.
KCKCC led 30-10 after one quarter and 51-21 at halftime. The Blue Devils made 18 of 33 shots for 54.4 percent the first half, then stepped it up in a 30-point third quarter with 11-of-17 for 64.7 percent.
The Blue Devils also converted 21 Fort Scott turnovers into 29 points and dominated the rebounding 48-31. Fort Scott’s Destiny Ellis led all scorers with 29 points including 20 of the Greyhounds’ 21 first half points.
Elsewhere, Labette all but wrapped up the Jayhawk Conference championship with a 69-51 win over Johnson County in Parsons.
With two games to go against Fort Scott and Hesston, Labette (7-1) has the lead over Highland (6-2), JCCC (5-3) and KCKCC (4-4). Highland pummeled Hesston 120-45 in Saturday’s other game.
