Category: KCKCC

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Depth was a major factor in Kansas City Kansas Community College’s drive to the national championship last season. Based on the Lady Blue Devils’ 95-66 win over Southeast Nebraska Saturday, it will be a big factor again this season.

“The final score doesn’t really reflect how competitive of a game this was,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We had a great first quarter (29-12) but unfortunately didn’t maintain our effort and energy and Southeast was able to make it an 8-point game at halftime (44-36).”

Leading by five points with about three minutes left in the third quarter, McKinstry sent in a quintet of starters Aliyah Myers and Alieyya Jones and non-starters Adoreya Williams, Tiaira Earnest and Diamond Williams, who re-built an 11-point lead (62-51) at the end of the quarter and then stayed on to propel the Blue Devils to a 33-point fourth quarter.

“That group was phenomenal and gave us a boost of energy that we’ve been lacking lately,” McKinstry said. “Obviously three of them don’t start and Jones has been a part-time starter so that speaks to the depth of this group. I think what made it even better while those five were playing so well, our entire bench was really involved and cheering them on the whole time.”

Non-starters combined for 43 points; eight Blue Devils scored seven or more points, nine had rebounds, eight had steals and seven had assists as they shot 49.2 percent (32-of-65) from the field and 37 percent from 3-point. The 95 points matched a season high accomplished two other times.

A 5-7 freshman from Derby, Myers led with a standout all-around performance – game-highs of 19 points, five assists, five steals and seven rebounds.

Williams scored a career high 17 points, Brodi Byrd had four 3-pointers and 16 points and Earnest 11 points and five rebounds. Jones and Mercer Roberts chipped in with eight points and Kamryn Estell and Anija Frazier seven each. Rebounding-wise, Estell and Myers had seven each; Diamond Williams and Earnest five apiece.

The win boosted the No. 4 ranked Blue Devils’ record to 12-1 heading into the two final games before the holiday break. Both are on the road, at Southwestern in Creston, Iowa, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday against Illinois Central at 11 a.m. in the St. Louis Classic.

“This group really has a lot of the pieces needed to compete for a conference championship,” McKinstry said. “If we can be a little more consistent in some areas, it could make January and February a lot of fun.”

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

While it’s seldom easy, No. 4 ranked Kansas City Kansas Community College pulled away in the second half for its seventh straight win Friday.

Trailing early in the third quarter, the Lady Blue Devils charged from behind with a 43-point second half for a 74-59 win over Central Nebraska in the first day of the Southeast Classic in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Blue Devils (11-1) faced host Southeast Saturday at 4 p.m.

Three Blue Devils combined for 42 points and 20 rebounds to lead the way.

Playing in only her second game after missing the first 10 games in concussion protocol, 5-10 Lee’s Summit North freshman Anija Frazier led the way with a near douhle-double – 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting along with eight rebounds and a game-high six steals.

Sophomore guard Brodi Byrd had 11 points, a team-leading nine rebounds and four steals; and freshman Allyah Myers had 12 points, a game high six assists and four steals.

“I was very happy with the play of Brodi, Allyah and Anija,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “The three of them impacted the game in different areas and were definitely the reason for our success today. It’s great Anija is finally healthy. We know she’s very talented and are hopeful she can continue to improve as she gets adjusted to the college game.”

Kamryn Estell added 11 points and Destiny Zamudio and Adoreya Williams seven points each for the Blue Devils, who led 31-29 at halftime but fell behind in the third quarter before grabbing a 52-43 lead with a 21-14 third period.

“Still not our best effort but we were able to do enough things well, specifically on the defensive end, to get ourselves a W,” McKinstry said. “Our defensive energy and positioning was really good. I was really pleased with that.”

The Blue Devils had 23 steals in forcing Central into 33 turnovers. Central was also limited to 19-of-53 field goal attempts for 35.8 percent while the Blue Devils were only slightly better, converting 27-of-68 shots for 39.7 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point (7-of-25).

“For the second straight game, we missed more than 20 layups and turned the ball over far too much (20 turnovers),” McKinstry said. “We’ve got to start doing a better job of that or it’s going to start costing us very soon.”

KCKCC closes out pre-holiday play with two games this coming week. The Blue Devils go to Southwestern in Creston, Iowa, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and then play Illinois Central in the St. Louis Classic next Sunday at 11 a.m.

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

On the road for nearly three weeks, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s much-traveled men’s basketball team returned home with gusto Friday night.

With five players in double figures and everyone scoring, the Blue Devils poured in 51 second half points in the second half on the way to a 90-53 win over Washburn University junior varsity.

“It’s always good to get home; it seems like we’ve been on the road all season,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “And now we three in a row at home.”

The win was the third in four games for the Blue Devils, who play host to NJCAA Division I State Fair Tuesday at 7 p.m. and then close out pre-holiday play with a home game with Southwestern (Iowa) Saturday at 4 p.m.

Not only did everyone score for KCKCC, all 10 Blue Devils also had rebounds and eight had assists led by Calvin Slaughter with five and four each by Jermaine Yarbough and Ezekiel Lopes.

Jalen Davis led the Blue Devils in scoring with 16 points along with a game high four steals. Derin McDaniel, with four 3-pointers, added 14 points; DeAngelo Ball 12, Jaemaal Newson 11 and Slaughter 10. Tyione Gilmore, Newson and Yarbough with five rebounds each led KCKCC to a 46-25 domination of the boards.

While the Ichabods never led, they were down just 39-29 at halftime mainly because the Blue Devils out-scored the visitors 21-9 from 3-point. Sizzling 62.5 percent shooting (20-of-32) broke the game wide open in the second half.

“We got out quicker and ran faster in the second half, making them miss tough shots and then getting out on the break and pushing the ball,” Burgette said. “I liked the way we competed. Our pressure made them turn the ball over 20 times although we turned it over 16 times which is too many.

“I was also pleased with our second unit which scored 38 points,” Burgette said. “Now we can see how we can challenge ourselves against tough opponents closing out the semester.”

KCKCC shot 52.2 percent from the game and 39.3 percent from 3-point (11-of-28) as six Blue Devils had treys. The win came after five straight games on the road and 9 of the first 11 this season.