by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
With two ranked opponents dead ahead, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils warmed up for one of their toughest weeks of the season with a 111-62 win over Graceland University junior varsity in Lamoni, Iowa, Saturday.
The Blue Devils will play host to No. 17 ranked North Central Missouri in a re-match of an earlier 118-115 double overtime shootout Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and then go to No. 6 Johnson County (5-1) Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Jayhawk Conference opener for both teams.
The No. 4 KCKCC women also play host to No. 13 North Central Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and both games will be streamed on the KCKCC Blue Devil website.
The win at Graceland was the fourth in a row for the Blue Devils and pushed them over the .500 mark at 6-5.
“A good win; the guys played hard,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “A good way to build momentum for our week ahead.”
Six Blue Devils scored in double figures and all 12 who played scored as KCKCC built a 50-28 halftime lead. Deron McDaniel led the scoring with 19 points followed by Cody Dortch and Robert Rhodes with 13 each, Caleb Jones 12 and Shayon Jonloo and Trey Bates 11 apiece.
Rhodes’ 13 points came on 6-of-6 shooting while Jones was 5-of-7 as the Blue Devils shot 48.4 percent from the field.
Bryce Johnson and Rhodes led rebounding with nine each while Don’vae Ferguson added seven and Jones six. Zach Nelson directed the offense with seven assists while Bates added four and Janloo and DeAngelo Bell three each.