Category: KCKCC

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College forward Lizzie Stark will resurrect her promising basketball career at Baker University.

Her sophomore season cut in half by a pre-season knee injury, Stark will join an up-and-coming NAIA program under second year coach Justin Rees, who led the Wildcats to a 17-14 season and 12-12 Heart of America Conference record in his first season.

“Lizzie was a great get for our program, especially this late in recruiting,” said Rees, who said Stark will add shooting and depth to the Wildcats’ front court. “Lizzie is exactly what we’re looking for here at Baker. She comes from a great program at KCKCC; has an incredible family supporting her; knows how to win and the sacrifices that come along with being successful and exudes all of those qualities. She persevered through a tough injury to get herself back into the fold and created a new role for herself on a national championship team…what more can you ask?”

Stark suffered a dislocated patella in a preseason jamboree in Lawrence Oct. 16, a date she’ll never forget.

“I had to jump for a ball and landed wrong,” she said. “I heard a pop and my knee on my right leg was sideways. I knew right away it was bad. It didn’t hurt that bad but it was uncomfortable.”

“Lizzie was dealt a very tough hand by her injury but could not have handled the situation any better,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “She would have had a much bigger role had she not been injured but she never let it affect her attitude or work ethic or support of her teammates. She is a phenomenal teammate and is so very deserving of the opportunity to play at a very good program like Baker.”

As a freshman, Stark was a key “sixth man” off the bench. Playing in all 32 games with five starting assignments, she averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds and led the team in free throw accuracy, shooting 77.8 percent which is 12th on KCKCC’s all-time list.

The injury kept her out of the Blue Devils’ first 12 games and by the time she returned the Blue Devils’ already deep playing rotation was set. She would play in just 17 games, averaging 1.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited playing time. Twice, however, she showed her shooting range, making 2-of-3 for 3-pointers.

“It really felt good to step back on the court even though it was only a limited amount of time. Not being able to play was very tough; I wanted to be out there with my teammates,” said Stark, who despite the injury never missed a game or a practice. “I was the No. 1 cheerleader.”

The No. 1 cheerleader on a national championship team.

“It was a season to remember; I’d never experienced anything like it. We never won in high school (Liberty North) and to come here and win a national championship was honestly a dream come true.”

Stark said choosing Baker was an easy decision although she had at least one other offer.

“I really enjoyed the campus, the coach, the girls,” she said. “We worked on some drills and then I scrimmaged with them. I liked the coach a lot; he’s looking to win a national championship. Just so there’s no more freak accidents.”

As a sophomore at Liberty North, Stark tore her MCL late in the season but rehabilitated in time to play her junior and senior seasons.

Despite her injury at KCKCC, Stark feels she learned tremendously from being part of the Blue Devil program.

“From last season to this season and then the final part of the year, I learned so much,” she said. “I’m very glad I came here and played with girls I hope will stay in my life forever.”

“Lizzie Stark is the kind of player every coach wants and needs,” McKinstry said. “She is willing and able to do anything that’s needed. She can spot up and knock down shots. If someone is needed to box out on every play, she’ll do that. If screens need to be set, she’ll go out and do that.”

While six KCKCC sophomores will be lost, seven starters to return in 2020

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Lana Ross has served notice. There’s going to be another big dog in the Jayhawk Conference softball race.

Despite the worst spring weather in a couple of decades. Ross’ first team at Kansas City Kansas Community College: 1) Won 38 games, equaling the second most wins in KCKCC history; 2) Divided regular season series with each of the three co-champions; and 3) Reached the NJCAA Region VI District D championship game.

“Finishing 38-20 exceeded my expectations,” Ross said. “To get through a season with just 13 players I couldn’t have asked for any more. If someone had told me before the season we would be in the championship game, I definitely don’t think I would have believed it. But this group worked so hard and it really paid off. I don’t think people realize the time and work that goes into a season and all the extra hours put in by the girls, Coach (Jenn) Strohman and myself.”

Finishing 12-8 in the Jayhawk, the first winning conference record since 2014, the Blue Devils put six players on the All-District D team. First baseman Kaylee Arnzen, shortstop Hannah Redick, outfielder Devin Purcell and pitcher Shay Grosstephan were named to the first team; second baseball Britney Smith and pitcher Mackenzie Pinkerton to the second team. Arnzen and Smith are the only sophomores.

One of only three sophomores in the starting lineup, Arnzen led the team in most offensive categories. Hitting .379, she also led in home runs (10), RBI (51), extra base hits (23) and slugging (.667) and set KCKCC records for walks (39) and putouts (337). The other sophomore starters who will be lost are Smith, who hit .307 and earned second team All-Jayhawk honors; and Parish Forshey, who had just one error in 39 chances in left field.

The other losses include pitcher Faith Maslak, who was 7-2 with six complete games and a 2.77 ERA; catcher Brittney Beck, who hit .216 in 38 games; and Gracie Gentry, pinch-runner deluxe.

Seven starters will return including infielders Redick and Alaina Howe, outfielders Purcell and Alexis Rymer, catcher Jennica Messer and pitchers Grosstephan and Pinkerton. Grosstephan, who got two wins in the district playoffs, finished 15-6 with a 4.10 earned run average. She walked 54 and struck out 73 in 145 innings. Pinkerton was 16-12 with four saves and a 4.65 ERA. She struck out 134 and walked 91 in 161 innings.

Redick was second in hitting (.368), led in hits (75) and drove in 37 runs from the leadoff position; Howe started all 58 games at third base, hitting .230 with 25 RBI. Rymer did not have an error in 76 chances in right field while hitting .337 with 22 extra base hits and 40 RBI while Purcell had just one error in center in 77 chances while batting .354 with 18 RBI and a team leading 14 stolen bases. Messer played 40 games behind the plate without an error while hitting .297 with 24 RBI.

Unable to get outside because of snow, ice and cold, the Blue Devils’ first games at Crowder were also the first outside the KCKCC Field House.

“Not conducive to having a great season, especially not having an opportunity to face live pitching,” Ross said. “But I think we peaked at the right time. The freshmen really stepped up. Howe made some great plays at third; Purcell covered a lot of ground in center; Redick was good all season; both pitchers got better. So we’re in pretty good shape for next year.”

Ross and assistant Jenn Strohman have already signed promising recruits to fill needs for next year – and more.

“They’ll add competition to the sophomores which will only make us better,” Ross said.

Despite the bad weather start, an all-weather field enabled the Blue Devils to play 58 games, the second most in the nation and their 38 wins were more wins than Jayhawk co-champion Johnson County played (24-12). Wins over nationally ranked teams included Highland (No. 5), Crowder (No. 10) and JCCC (No. 16) – and league co-champion Hesston 6-5 in the regional semifinals that was especially special.

“I’m super proud of the way they came back in the regional after being behind 5-0,” Ross said. “It showed what kind of team this was. They could have easily thrown in the towel. And we beat some good teams this year so I’m really excited about the future of this program.”

NJCAA Player of Year chooses NCAA DII power Central Missouri over DI non-contenders

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

By nature, Nija Collier is not a greedy person – until it comes to national championships.

Leading Kansas City Kansas Community College to the 2019 NJCAA DII national basketball championship was not enough for the 6-foot sophomore who was named NJCAA DII National Player of the Year.

Turning down several offers from NCAA Division I colleges and universities, Collier committed to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) “to be in position to win a national championship again at a top Division II school rather than a lower Division I school.”

Few if any DII schools offer a better opportunity to win on a consistent basis than the Jennies of UCM. In the 36 years of women’s basketball, Central Missouri has had only two losing seasons. The 2018 national champions, the Jennies also won the national title in 1984 and have been to the national tournament nine times. Huge fan favorites in Warrensburg, the Jennies had one of their worst seasons (14-14) in 2006-2007 and still ranked 10th in the nation in attendance.

Central Missouri also made it possible for Collier to play immediately – something the Division I schools could not do.

“UCM really helped me out; they were the only one to do that,” Collier said. “Otherwise I would have had to come back to KCKCC to finish my credits. All I need is to take a science class. That was a blessing; they were waiting for me.”

In Collier, Central Missouri is getting the national and Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year plus her teammate, 5-9 guard Camryn Swanson.

“Everyone was super nice,” Collier said of their visit. “It was such a nice atmosphere. Everyone was smiling and happy to see us. It made us feel like we were already at home.”

The team leader in scoring (17.3), rebounds (9.7) and blocked shots, Collier shot 58.5 percent from the field.

The fact that Swanson, is also going to UCM was yet another factor in Collier’s decision.

“I’m real happy; she’s my best friend,” Collier said. “She has the same goal as I have, win a national championship.”

Their timing is also excellent. The Jennies graduate both of their top 3-point shooters, All-American Paige Redmond and Sydney Crockett, and both Collier and Swanson are outstanding in that department.

Collier was a 40 percent shooter from 3-point this season while Swanson’s 87 threes are an all-time KCKCC best. Ranked 23rd nationally this past season, UCM finished 27-5 after being eliminated from the DII tournament on a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining.

Her ability to shoot from distance made Collier especially attractive during her visit to UCM.

“They had me playing the 4 and 5 positions when we started but there were people stronger than me so I think I’ll play the 3 or 4 because I can shoot and I can drive, not just one thing,” Collier said.

A vicious rebounder, Collier goes after missed shots with a vengeance.

“Sometimes I go up too soft but the second time I go up stronger and rip the ball down,” she said.

Collier’s goal coming out of high school was to play DI and she had her chances. Three DI schools right out of her back yard of the Detroit area offered – Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan along with Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State and Delaware State.

“I got a lot of DI looks and could have gone D1 but when I stepped back I think this (UCM) is the best for me,” Collier said. “I know a lot of people were disappointed by my family and friends support me and that really matters. It means a lot.”