Category: KCKCC

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Based on Kansas City Kansas Community College’s 91-61 win at Southwestern in Creston, Iowa, Wednesday, a 25-day layoff may not be coming at the best time.

“Probably our most complete game of the season in terms of being in control from start to finish,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We’ve really put an emphasis on defense in practice lately and the girls have responded very well.”

The win was the ninth in a row for the No. 3 ranked Lady Blue Devils (13-1) heading into one last game before the 3½-week holiday break. The finale comes Sunday at 11 a.m. against Illinois Central in the St. Louis Classic.

KCKCC continued to get excellent balance at Southwestern. Every Blue Devil scored, every Blue Devil had at least one rebound. In fact, the Blue Devils were so balanced that five starters combined for 46 points, the five reserves 44 points.

Five Blue Devils scored in double figures. Brodi Byrd led with 16 points followed by Jada Mayberry with 14, Aliyah Myers 13 and Mercer Robert and Anija Frazier 12 each.

Kamryn Estell added eight, Destiny Zamudio seven and Adoreya Williams five.

Roberts led the rebounding with nine, Estell had eight and Mayberry seven. Adoreya Williams and Tiaira Earnest led in assists with three each.

Defensively, the Blue Devils forced 23 turnovers that they converted into 22 points. Diamond Williams and Byrd led the way with three steals each. KCKCC also outscored the Spartans 52-30 in the paint while limiting them to 32.8 percent shooting.

Myers and Byrd provided the early offense as the Blue Devils bolted to a 28-15 first quarter lead. Myers had 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and Byrd had a pair of 3-pointers in adding eight points as KCKCC shot 52.2 percent from the field; 28.6 percent from 3-point.

“Southwestern switched up defenses throughout the game and I thought our girls did a great job of figuring out what we needed to be doing offensively and it led to everyone contributing on the scoreboard,” McKinstry said. “Everyone also had a rebound so I was very pleased with our overall effort.”

KCKCC will resume post-holiday play at home, playing host to Southeast Nebraska Jan. 9 and Metropolitan Jan. 11.

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Brandon Burgette got an early Christmas present Tuesday – an 87-74 Kansas City Kansas Community College win over State Fair, his first victory over an NJCAA Division I team.

The win was the fourth in the last five games for the Blue Devils, who forged a lead early in the second half and then turned back every State Fair challenge.

“I told our team after our loss to Mineral Area that our goal was to be 4-0 going into the break,” Burgette said. KCKCC (5-8) can reach that goal Saturday in a 4 p.m. home game against Southwestern (Iowa).

State Fair (10-6) and KCKCC battled through nine lead changes and seven ties in the first half and exchanged leads 13 times and had nine deadlocks total before the Blue Devils grabbed the lead for good with 16:15 remaining.

Bishop Miege sophomore Ezekiel Lopes put KCKCC ahead to stay 46-45 with a spectacular dunk off a missed shot and then drained a pair of 3-pointers to expand the lead to 53-46, a lead the Blue Devils would not give up.

The closest the Roadrunners could get was 58-57 with 11:07 remaining but freshman Deron McDaniel knocked down a pair of threes to make it 64-57 and the defense took it from there, forcing three straight turnovers.

“We did a great job of forcing 18 turnovers which led to transition baskets,” Burgette said. “Getting 20 points off turnovers is great. And we took care of the ball (9 turnovers). That was the main thing, that and getting stops and making them take some bad shots. And we made free throws (20-of-24), the best percentage this season.”

The Blue Devils also got a big shot in the arm from sophomore Jalen Davis, who came off the bench in the second half to score 14 points and grab five rebounds.

“Jalen really stepped up in the second half,” Burgette said.

Four Blue Devils scored in double figures led by the 3-point shooters, Lopes and McDaniel, each with three treys with Lopes scoring 17 points and McDaniel 15.

Robert Rhodes provided the early offense with 12 first half points along with five assists and a game high nine rebounds and Calvin Slaughter added nine points and five rebounds.

The night’s unsung hero was DeAngelo Ball, a 5-9 freshman from Harmon High School, who had a career-high nine assists and just one turnover against an aggressive State Fair defense. For the game, the Blue Devils had 20 assists on 28 field goals.

Three-point goals were also paramount to the win. KCKCC outscored State Fair 33-3 from the perimeter, the Roadrunners making only 1-of-18 for 5.6 percent.

The Blue Devils were 11-of-30 for 36.7 percent from 3-point and the two teams were almost dead even from the field at 41 percent.

“All week this team has been 10 times better than all year,” Burgette said. “It’s been consistent, all 10 guys buying into the system and believing in each other. No one cares who scores. It becomes contagious.”

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

While the start of the 2020 softball season at Kansas City Kansas Community College is still more than two months away, laying of the foundation for the 2020-2021 season is well underway.

“We lose two pitchers, two outfielders, two infielders and a catcher so our main focus was on finding pitchers, catchers and a true shortstop and we got exactly what we wanted,” KCKCC coach Lana Ross said in announcing the signing of six recruits for 2020-2021.

The Blue Devils are coming off a 38-20 season in Ross’ first year as head coach. The 38 wins tied the KCKCC record for the second most wins in a season and the Blue Devils’ 12-8 Jayhawk Conference record was the first winning record in the conference since 2014.

Here’s a look at the 2020 recruiting class:

Savannah Maynard, shortstop from Blue Springs. Batted .478 with eight home runs and 37 runs-batted-in this past season at Blue Springs High School. A four-year starter, Maynard was all-district all four years and first team all-conference two years. She’s also an accomplished race car driver as a two-time Queen of the Track winner at Tulsa and Kansas Dragways and three-time finalist In Sportsman’s and modern hemi classes.

“A great athlete with exceptional speed, we’re looking at her as an ideal leadoff hitter,” Ross said.

Shannon Jessup, outfielder from Lansing – Batted .478 with 33 hits, 10 RBI and 12 stolen bases this past spring. Three-year letter-winner in both softball and basketball. All-conference second team on state tournament team in 2019. National Honors Society with 3.95 GPA. Fellowship of Christian Athletes president. Two-year choir member on No. 1 rated state qualifying choir.

“Real hard worker with great speed; very positive, will be a great team leader with her attitude,” Ross said.

BreAnna Droge, right-handed pitcher from Topeka Hayden. Injured sophomore season after playing on sub-state championship team as a freshman. All-City first team as a junior. Lettered four years in softball, two in basketball and one in cross country. On the honor roll four years and in National Honor Society two years.

“A very fluid pitcher with good velocity,” Ross said. “A perfectionist who works every day to get better.”

Samantha Reynolds, right-handed pitcher from Tonganoxie. All-state honorable mention in both 2018 and 2019 and second team all-conference in 2019. Also National Honor Society 2018-2019.

“Samantha has great spin on the ball and has been very successful with a rise ball,” Ross said.

Jenna Daugherty, catcher from Olathe Northwest. A three-year letter-winner, won Junior of the Year award for the 21st Century program for eCommunications. “

A left-handed power hitter who throws right-handed,” Ross said. “Brings a lot of different tools to the plate and defensively. When not behind the plate, she will be in the outfield.”

Lindsey Gettle, catcher from Pleasant Hope, Missouri. – First team all-conference and all-district at Pleasant Hope High School. On the AB honor roll; has received state degree in FFA.

“Hits well, throws well. Gritty, gets the job done,” Ross said.

In addition to physical skills, the recruits bring an impressive array of academic success to the KCKCC program.

“All six are highly motivated academically and have future plans to continue on with their careers after KCKCC,” Ross said. “They fit right in with the high academics of our softball program.”

While off to an outstanding start, the recruiting by Ross and assistant Jenn Strohman for 2020 is by no means over.

“We’re definitely continuing to look,” Ross said. “We’d like to bring in four more. We’re looking for pitchers, hitters and speed. We really like speed in a good athlete.”

Veterans who will be lost after next spring are pitchers Shaylun Grosstephan and Mackenzie Pinkerton, catcher Jennica Messer, infielders Alaina Howe and Hannah Redick and outfielders Devin Purcell and Alexis Rymer. The Blue Devils open the season with three home doubleheaders starting Feb. 23.