by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
A 91-73 winner over Washburn University JV Saturday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s men will close out the home portion of their pre-holiday schedule Tuesday against Iowa Western at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils will then close out December play Saturday against Iowa Lakes in Estherville at 2 p.m.
Lane Hartley, a 6-3 freshman guard from Chatham, LA., provided the early fireworks that that got the Blue Devils out in front at halftime 49-30. Hartley was 5-of-8 from 3-point for 15 of his 21 points in the first half while sophomore Jon Murray had 11 of his 21 points in the opening 20 minutes.
KCKCC led only 27-23 with 6½ minutes left in the half before a 13-0 run expanded the lead to 40-23. Murray sandwiched a field goal and two free throws around a Hartley 3-pointer and sophomore center Donald Metoyer of Washington finished off the decisive rally with a pair of field goals. The Blue Devils shot a crisp 51.5 percent the first half including 8-of-14 3-pointers for 57.1 percent.
Kellen Turner added 14 points including 4-of-6 3-pointers; Mike Lee had 10 and a game-high 6 assists; and Metoyer and Artavious Banks 8 points each. Garrick McCuller led the Blue Devil rebounding with eight along with five assists while Murray had seven rebounds to go along with 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 free throws.
“Defensively, I thought we played real well,” said KCKCC coach Kelley Newton. “We were aggressive and moved on the flight of the ball. Overall, we did a better job of attacking the basket which was a big factor in the game. Washburn JV is very good, very big and comparable to teams we’ve been playing all year, which made it a good win.”