Serving Kansas City (Wyandotte County) Kansas for over 50 years!
by Brian Turrel
Central Avenue was lit up Saturday evening with the brilliant colors and macabre costumes of the Dia de Muertos parade, sponsored by the Central Avenue Betterment Association.
The size of the crowd and the parade have increased significantly in the past two years, and a large crowd lined both sides of the avenue. Musicians and food and craft vendors were also featured up and down Central with activities going on from 3 until 9 p.m.
by Brian Turrel
The Bonner Springs Braves moved on to the second round of the KSHSAA 4A football playoffs with a 49-12 thumping of the Eudora Cardinals on Friday night.
Running back Bryce Krone scored four touchdowns in the game. Krone gained 244 yards on 13 carries to push his season total over the 2,100 yard mark.
Quarterback Johnathon Tapia completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rishaud Dockery. Armani Washington caught 3 passes for 106 yards to lead the receivers.
The Braves also scored on special teams when Peyton Parks blocked a first quarter field goal attempt by the Cardinals. Armani Washington retrieved the block and returned it 91 yards for a Braves touchdown.
Bonner Springs will play at Bishop Miege High School in the second round next Friday at 7:00 PM.
In other 4A playoff action, Piper came back from a 30-18 halftime deficit to defeat Basehor-Linwood 56-47. The Pirates will play at Paola next Friday.
In the 5A playoffs, Turner lost to De Soto 62-22. Washington lost to Blue Valley Southwest 31-6. Schlagle defeated Sumner Academy 61-13 and advances to play Blue Valley Southwest at Schlagle Stadium.
In the 6A playoffs, Wyandotte defeated Harmon 51-30, and will travel to Olathe North in the second round next week.
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young women’s soccer team performed so well in their first-ever home playoff game they’re going to get to do it again.
A 3-1 winner over defending Region VI champion Barton County in opening regional play Saturday, the Blue Devils will be back home again Thursday thanks to No. 8 seeded Johnson County’s stunning 2-1 upset of No. 1 seeded Cloud County. No kickoff time has been set but it is expected to be mid to later afternoon.
Freshman Melissa Siegel’s penalty kick with 18:58 left in the second half broke a 1-1 deadlock and propelled the Blue Devils to their 13th win of the season against just three losses.
The penalty kick came when Corrine Hughes was knocked down just inside the box, the fifth time she had been knocked down during the furiously fought battle but the first time a foul was called.
“I was really nervous,” said Siegel of her penalty shot, a rocket just inside the right goal post that gave Barton County goalkeeper Itzel Diaz no chance. “With so little time left, so many things can happen. I knew all along I was going to kick it to the right side.”
“She’s a gamer; she’s not afraid of taking the big shot,” praised KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake. It was Siegel’s third penalty kick of the season, all successful. The first two came at Butler County.
The Blue Devils then wrapped up the win 3½ minutes later when freshman Maddy Broeker beat Barton’s goalkeeper to a ball at the top of the box for the goal that opened the 3-1 lead. Broeker, who had just returned to the game, had to be helped from the field with a leg bruise after the collision with Diaz.
“I’m OK; the goal is what counted,” Broeker said.
KCKCC jumped in front with just 2:53 gone in the first half when Hughes converted a corner kick from freshman Kayley Pedersen. The lead stood up until the 33:26 mark of the first half when the Cougars’ Dominica Pena punched in the tying goal.
It would be the Cougars only goal thanks to a standout defensive effort by goalkeeper Jaidyn Takaishi, who had six saves on 15 Barton shots, and the back line of sophomores Sydney Guerra, Karleigh Enyart and Alex Schemmel and freshman Paige Liston.
“Our back line defense really held us together, especially since our midfield was not connecting with our forwards very often,” Uhlenhake said. The Blue Devils got off 14 shots including 10 on goals, seven of which were turned away by Diaz.
Thursday’s clash with Johnson County (12-6-1) will be the third meeting between the two teams, KCKCC winning 3-2 at JCCC and 2-0 at home.
“It’s really tough to beat a team three times,” Uhlenhake said. “We certainly know everything there is to know about each other.”
