by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
What a difference seven days can make for a young basketball team.
Beaten by Washburn University junior varsity 80-77 a week ago, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young Blue Devils responded with a workmanlike 72-59 home court win over the Ichabods Monday night.
The win sets up another re-match Saturday when KCKCC (4-9) is host to Iowa Western at 4 p.m. in the final game before entering the holiday break.
The Blue Devils combined one of their better shooting nights with effective ball-handling and a stingy defense for the 72-59 win over Washburn.
Knocking down 26 of 50 shots for 52 percent, the Blue Devils had 20 assists on the 26 field goals – the most assists of the season. Defensively, they limited the Ichabods to 20 of 51 shots for 39.2 percent, came up with 11 steals and forced 15 turnovers.
“These kids needed a defensive win like this where we were in control all the way,” said KCKCC coach Kelley Newton, whose Blue Devils never trailed. “One of the things I was most happy with was the way we shared the ball. I don’t know how many assists we had but I know it was the most of the season. I knew that at halftime.”
Kelyn Bolton, a 6-2 freshman point guard from Belton, had 12 of the assists with Cody Dortch and Malcolm Tate adding three each.
Sophomore Arother Ratliff led a balanced attack with 17 points. Jalen Davis added 13 points, Dortch 11 and Taylor Turner and Jonathan Richmond 8 each. Bolton also had six rebounds and Dortch five in an evenly matched battle of the boards (30-29 Washburn).
Nearly half of KCKCC’s field goals came on 3-pointers. Dortch and Ratliff had three each and Turner a pair as the Blue Devils were 11-of-30 for 36.7 percent.
“It was nice to see some shots go in,” Newton said. “Against a zone defense, we were able to move the ball effectively to get some open looks.”
Unable to score in close, nearly three-fourths of Washburn’s scoring came from 3-point range. Of Washburn’s 20 field goals, 14 came from 3-point for 70 percent.
KCKCC knocked down eight 3-pointers in 16 attempts the first half in building its biggest lead at 39-25.
Washburn closed the gap to 56-53 with 9:37 left in the second half before the KCKCC defense pitched a 7½ -minute shutout, during which time sophomore DuVonte’ Beard reopened the lead to 62-53 with a resounding dunk and a 3-pointer in a matter of 30 seconds.
By the time the Ichabods scored again with 1:59 left, KCKCC had a comfortable 66-56 lead. The game ended Washburn’s junior varsity season at 4-6.