by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Joe McKinstry got his first win ever at Highland Wednesday night.
Winless at Highland in each of his first five coaching seasons at Kansas City Kansas Community College and 0-6 all-time, McKinstry finally broke the spell with a 10-2 finish in a 65-46 win. A scheduled men’s game was canceled.
It was the third straight win for the Blue Devils and boosted them to 16-2 heading into a home doubleheader with Labette Saturday at 2-4 p.m. The three straight wins came in five days – all on the road. KCKCC won 94-58 at Hesston Saturday and 94-58 at Division I State Fair Monday.
KCKCC led Highland by as many as 19 points (29-10) in the second quarter and 39-22 at halftime only to have the Scotties close the gap with a 20-11 third quarter and 55-54 with 5:25 left.
That’s when the Blue Devils put the hammer down, holding the Scotties to one lone field goal in eight attempts down the stretch.
Freshman Faith Putz provided the final firepower, knocking down a 3-poimter for a 60-54 lead with 3:15 remaining and a clinching layup with 31 seconds to go.
Putz led all scorers with 17 points while Aliyah Myers added 10 and Tiairia Earnest 9 on a trio of 3-pointers; Mercer Roberts chipped in with eight, sisters De’Jaaria and DeQuaria Guillory six each and Ikia Elam five. Myers also had four assists and four steals; Trinity McDow, Earmest and De’Jaria Guillory hauled in six rebounds to give KCKCC a 41-38 board edge.
Every Blue Devil scored in the 76-47 win at Hesston Saturday. Myers had 17 points, Lacy Whitcomb 11, Aysia Arrowood 10 and Putz 8. Myers also led in rebounding with eight; Earnest added seven.
Ikia Elam, a 6-0 freshman from Pontiac, Michigan, had her finest performance in the 94-58 win at State Fair Monday. Knocking down 9-of-12 shots, Elam had career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds. Myers added 20 points and six assists and Earnest a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.