Category: KCKCC

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young women’s basketball team turned in a “Jekyll and Dr. Hyde” performance in a 95-78 win over Park University’s Developmental team Tuesday.

On one hand, the Blue Devils forced 21 turnovers, many of which came off a dozen steals that were turned into easy breakaway layups and accounted for at least a third of the KCKCC offense.

But the Blue Devils were also outscored 49-48 in a second half that saw the Lady Pirates knock down 18 of 35 shots for 51.4 percent shooting, easily the most points given up in any half this season.

“Disappointing,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “This was not a performance that is reflective of what this program is about. Our effort of defensive and offensive execution is going to get us beat on most nights. It’s simply inexcusable.”

The Blue Devils had 18 turnovers and although the easy transition baskets enabled them to shoot 50.7 percent (38-of-75) from the field, they were just 9-of-34 for a chilly 26.5 percent from 3-point and 10-of-22 (.455) from the foul line.

“We were sloppy and undetailed and those are things we specifically watched on film from our loss this past weekend and that we wanted to correct,” McKinstry said.

On the plus side, the Blue Devils got a career-high 24 points from their lone veteran, 5-6 guard Brodi Byrd, who was 10-of-15 from the field including 4-of-7 treys. She also led in steals with five, shared the rebounding lead with six and handed out five assists.

Byrd provided the shot of the game, a mid-court 45-footer at the buzzer that helped KCKCC expand a 16-14 lead to 23-14 after one quarter. The Blue Devils were in front 47-29 at the half.

Freshman Alieyya Jones had her best night with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Kamryn Estell had five assists and four rebounds to go along with 12 points.

Nine of 10 Blue Devils had at least five points with Adoreya Williams adding 9, Tiaira Earnest 8 and Jada Mayberry 7.

KCKCC won the rebounding battle 47-35 with four Blue Devils sharing the lead with six – Byrd, Earnest, Alliyah Myers and Mercer Roberts. Diamond Williams led in assists with six.

“It feels good to be 5-1 at this point but we know we have to get better if we want to put ourselves in position to compete at the end of the season,” McKinstry said.

The Blue Devils are home for the last time in November this weekend when they play host to Southwestern Iowa (3-3) Friday at 6 p.m. and North Central Missouri (4-2) Saturday at 4 p.m. in the annual Keith Lindsey Classic. The KCKCC men will play Cowley College Friday at 8 p.m. and North Central Missouri Saturday at 6 p.m. The tournament schedule:

Friday – Fort Scott women vs. North Central Missouri, 2 p.m.; Labette men vs. North Central Missouri, 4 p.m.; KCKCC women vs. Southwestern (Iowa), 6 p.m.; KCKCC men vs. Cowley, 8 p.m.

Saturday – Fort Scott women vs. Southwestern, noon; Labette men vs. Cowley, 2 p.m.; KCKCC women vs. North Central Missouri, 4 p.m.; KCKCC men vs. North Central Missouri, 6 p.m.

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Finding the right chemistry for a young basketball team is tough enough for a first-year head coach. Doing it on the road is even tougher.

For the second time in less than 20 hours, Kansas City Kansas Community College men’s basketball team had a big second half rally come up short in a 74-71 loss to Ellsworth Saturday.

The loss came in the Koenigsmark Klassic in Mason City, Iowa, and left the Blue Devils 1-2 heading into the final game of a four-game season opening road trip at Allen County Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Trailing 42-32 at halftime, the Blue Devils went ahead with seven minutes remaining before Ellsworth (4-1) pulled away in a see-saw finish.

“After Friday’s second half rally against NIACC, I thought with the late ending and quick turnaround Saturday, we would be hungry and eager to play,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “Instead. I think we were tired and fatigued.”

The Blue Devils got a standout double-double performance from 6-8 Sevon Witt, who had game highs of 31 points and 13 rebounds although in foul trouble with four.

Robert Rhodes, a 6-7 freshman from Park Hill South, just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds as KCKCC dominated the rebounding 56-30 with 24 of the boards coming on the offensive end.

Cody Dortch added nine points, Ezekiel Lopes eight points and six rebounds and Jalen Davis six points and five rebounds for the Blue Devils, who had just 12 turnovers to nine for Ellsworth.

“Ellsworth couldn’t handles our bigs but our bigs couldn’t score around the basket,” Burgette said.

Field goal shooting continued to be a problem. The Blue Devils were just 27-of-73 from the floor for 37.0 percent and a frigid 2-of-18 from 3-point (.111).

“We’re in a rough patch struggling to score,” Burgette said. “We’re just not shooting the ball well anywhere on the floor. In the two days, we barely shot 30 percent from the field and less than 20 percent from 3-point.

“Having 24 offensive rebounds and not scoring really hurts,” he said. “We’re going to have to step up and make shots and make plays. It’s still early but we’ve got to figure out about us as a team and an identity. We have to stay together.

“It’s a long road ahead of us. With two home games and then five more on the road, it doesn’t get any easier.”

After Tuesday’s game at longtime rival Allen County in Iola, the Blue Devils finally get to play at home in the Keith Lindsey Classic. They’ll be the hosts for another longtime foe in Cowley College Friday at 8 p.m. and North Central Missouri Saturday at 6 p.m.