by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College built up a 14-point first half lead but then had to hold on for a 90-84 road win at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs Tuesday night.
The win was the sixth in a row for the unbeaten Blue Devils, who will get their stiffest tests of the season this weekend when they play Dodge City Friday at 7 p.m. and Neosho County Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Dodge City Classic.
Hot shooting and balanced scoring carried the Blue Devils at Iowa Western. KCKCC was 18 of 32 for 56.3 percent in building a 47-33 halftime lead and finished with 52.0 percent (13 of 25) in the second half to hold off a 51-point second half by the Reivers, who were 18 of 34 for 52.9 percent.
Three Blue Devils, sophomore C.J. Vallejo and freshmen Austin Hall and Joe Lendway, had 21 points each to lead the way. Soph Ray Ridley added 11 points and frosh Tevin Downing 9 and both had four assists as the five KCKCC starters scored all but seven points.
“It was a great program win,” said head coach Kelley Newton. “Iowa Western has a long history of producing really good teams and players. Austin Hall, C.J. Vallejo and Joe Lendway all were outstanding with 21 points each and we put a lot of pressure on them defensively. But the thing I was most proud was that we answered ever run Iowa Western made.”
The Blue Devils were particularly efficient from 3-point range, hitting 10 of 19 including a perfect 4-for-4 by Hall and 4-of-5 by Vallejo. Hall also had six rebounds, Downing five and Vallejo and Lendway four each.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.