Category: KCKCC

Despite injuries, No. 3 Lady Blue Devils 14-1 at halfway mark

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

With 24 days off, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s basketball team is hopeful of finally being at full strength with conference play looming in the background.

“This team has overcome a lot of adversity in the first semester, primarily because of injuries,” fifth year coach Joe McKinstry said. “We have not been at full strength for one workout or practice since this group stepped foot on campus. Our lineups and play availability have fluctuated throughout November and December, which has limited us in what we can do in practice.”

Despite the injuries, the Blue Devils go into the holiday break with a lofty 14-1 record and No. 3 ranking in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll.

“I’m very proud of this group and the position they have put themselves in at this point in our season,” McKinstry said. “A 14-1 record speaks to their talent and capabilities.”

McKinstry has had just one player, guard Brodi Byrd, with experience from last year’s NJCAA Division II National Championship team.

“Diamond Williams was with us last season but missed the entire year with a knee injury, Caroline Hoppock has missed the entire season with an injury but we are hopeful she will return after the break. And Carson Chandler will miss the entire season with a knee injury that required surgery.

“So of the 11 individuals who have suited for competition, 10 of them are playing in a KCKCC uniform for the first time (nine freshmen, one sophomore transfer).

“The most exciting part is that I believe this group still hasn’t played its best basketball. Every day is a learning experience and as a group, we are just trying to learn as much as we can, limit mistakes and not repeat them, and continue to grow as a team. They’ve really put themselves in position to win a lot of games and hopefully compete for a conference championship.”

The Blue Devils resume play the second week in January, playing host to Southeast Nebraska Jan. 9 and Metropolitan Jan. 11.

On the road for three games against Missouri Southern junior varsity, Park University junior varsity and North Central Missouri, KCKCC begins play in the rugged Jayhawk Jan. 22 at Labette.

Lady Blue Devils come from 18 back for 10th straight win

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

It took the biggest comeback in the last four years to send No. 3 ranked Kansas City Kansas Community College into the holiday break with a 14-1 record.

Down by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, the Lady Blue Devils overcame a rash of injuries to rally for an 85-77 win over Illinois Central in the St. Louis Classic Sunday. The win was the 10th in a row since KCKCC’s only loss at No. 1 ranked Kirkwood Nov. 9.

Career offensive performances by freshmen Kamryn Estell and Anija Frazier were the catalysts in the come-from-behind win. Estell had 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting and six rebounds while Frazier had her first double-double with 17 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Frazier’s 17 points included three 3-pointers and three steals.

“Kamryn Estell played very well,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “Her 15 points kept us in the game the first half. We finally raised our play level after the half but didn’t get the lead until late in the third quarter.”

Illinois Central led 24-16 after one quarter and 47-40 at the half before a 24-16 third quarter pushed the Blue Devils in front 64-63 and they pulled away with a 21-14 fourth period.

“We only had eight players available due to injuries and I can honestly say that all eight had big moments in the game and everyone shared in the win,” McKinstry said.

Jada Mayberry had 10 points and five rebounds; Brodi Byrd eight points and five rebounds; and Adoreya Williams seven points while Aliyah Myers and Destiny Zamudio led in assists with three each.

Illinois Central had a 48-41 rebound edge which produced 15 second chance points. However, KCKCC committed just 14 turnovers to 19 for Central. Shooting-wise, the Blue Devils were 32-of-75 for 42.6 percent and 8-for-26 from 3-point (.307). Central shot 40.2 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from 3-point (11-of-26).

KCKCC is now idle until the second week in January when the Blue Devils play host to Southeast Nebraska Jan. 9 and Metropolitan Jan. 11. Then it’s on the road for three games before kicking off of the Jayhawk Conference season at Labette Nan. 22.

27 lead changes as Southwestern escapes KCKCC, 83-82

Deron McDaniel maneuvered between two Southwestern defenders for a layup that gave KCKCC a 3-point lead in the closing minutes before the Spartans scored late for an 83-82 win Saturday. McDaniel had a team-high 18 points. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
Harmon freshman DeAngelo Ball slipped inside three Southwestern defenders for two of his 17 points in KCKCC’s last second 83-82 loss Saturday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Twenty-seven times Kansas City Kansas Community College and Southwestern (Iowa) exchanged leads Saturday.

Unfortunately, it was the Spartans who had the last one, winning 83-82 on Akeem Woods’ reverse layup with 9.5 seconds remaining.

The loss was only the second in the last six games and left the Blue Devils 5-9 heading into the holiday break. They do not resume play until a road encounter at Hutchinson Jan. 8 followed by the KCKCC Classic against On Point Academy and Metropolitan Jan. 10-11.

For spectators, this was a dandy battle in which both teams shot 50 percent or better with relative few turnovers or fouls (21 total) for a fast-paced, up-and-down shootout. KCKCC had 10 turnovers, Southwestern 8.

In the end, a 35-30 edge on the boards was the difference, Southwestern converting 10 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points to just four for the Blue Devils.

“We didn’t play defense well enough,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “We gave up too many layups; not enough back side help.”

Three-point shooting helped KCKCC keep pace in the roller-coaster fray. Six Blue Devils combined to net 11-of-28 treys (39.3 percent); Southwestern was just 7 for 25 for 28 percent. DeAngelo Bell had three 3-pointers, Ezekiel Lopes, Deron McDaniel and Tim Barbieri two each.

McDaniel had 18 points, Ball and Jermaine Yarbough 17 each to lead the way. Lopes added 10 points, Barbieri 8 and Jalen Davis 6. Robert Rhodes led rebounding with a game high 12 and handed out five assists. Calvin Slaughter led in assists with six, Ball had five as KCKCC had 19 assists on 32 field goals.

Southwestern, which pulled away in the second half for an 87-77 win earlier this season, built a 52-44 lead 2½ minutes into the second half but the Blue Devils bounced right back and went ahead 58-57 on a McDaniel 3-pointer and neither team led by more than three-points in a roller-coaster finish.

McDaniel layups twice gave KCKCC 3-point leads in the final 1:40 but the Spartans stayed close on a Woods’ basket and two James Kelley free throws with 54.7 seconds left.

“We wanted to run clock and try to get a last shot and we did get a good shot (by Ball) that just missed,” Burgette said.

After Woods; go-ahead basket with 9.5 left, the Blue Devils got one last attempt but misfired.

“We just traded baskets; we never got consecutive stops when we had the lead,” Burgette said. “You just can’t let a team shoot 50 percent and expect to win.”

The Blue Devils were 32-of-61 for 52.5 percent for the game to 32-of-64 for Spartans, who were almost perfect from the foul line with 12-of-13.