Category: KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College landed an early season haymaker Tuesday, dealing No. 5 ranked Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) a 75-73 overtime upset on the Bears’ home court in Boone, Iowa.

Bryce Johnson’s layup with four seconds left won it for the Blue Devils, who evened their record at 3-3. The defending NJCAA Division II national champion, DMACC fell to 5-2. KCKCC will compete in the West Plains Classic this weekend, facing North Arkansas Friday at 6 p.m. and host Missouri State-West Plains Saturday at 8 p.m.

KCKCC never trailed in overtime at DMACC and led 70-68 with 1:40 left and 73-71 before the Bears pulled even at 73 with 18 seconds remaining. The Blue Devils forced overtime 66-66 on Shayon Janloo’s field goal with 28 seconds left.

A 6-6 freshman from Lawrence, Johnson came off the bench to lead the Blue Devils with game highs of 23 points and 8 rebounds while 6-3 guard Bradley Lightbourne of Nassau, Bahama, added 19 points and 5 rebounds and St. Louis guard Caleb Jones 11 points and 5 rebounds. Raytown’s Cortez Howlett led in assists with four.

The Blue Devils built a 34-27 lead at halftime and twice led by 10 points before the Bears pulled even 61-61 with 2:10 left and went ahead 66-64 on a pair of free throws with 1:01 before KCKCC pulled even 66-66 on Janloo’s basket with 28 seconds left.

KCKCC converted 27-of-55 shots for a season best 49.3 percent and controlled the rebounding 38-26. Both teams had 17 turnovers while the Bears were 45.6 percent from the field.

The Blue Devils don’t return home until Dec. 2 when they entertain North Arkansas while the No. 7 ranked KCKCC women (6-0) are home for two games this weekend, as hosts of Illinois Central Friday at 6 p.m. and Iowa Western Saturday at 2 p.m.

The second half was no friend to Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils in this year’s annual Blue Devil Classic.

Ahead at halftime in each game, the Blue Devils dropped a 76-67 decision to Iowa Western Friday and then fell 75-69 to Link Year Prep Saturday. The losses dropped KCKCC’s record to 2-3 before taking on Des Moines Area, the defending NJCAA Division II national champion Tuesday in Boone, Iowa.

KCKCC led unbeaten Iowa Western 35-31 at halftime only to have the Reivers open the second half on a 17-2 run to vault to a 48-37 lead with 14:20 left. The Reivers were 7-of-10 during the pivotal run; the Blue Devils just one of nine as the Blue Devils could get only eight of 32 shots to fall in the second half, a chilly 25 percent. Meanwhile, Iowa Western heated up, knocking down 16-of-30 for 53.3 percent. Closest KCKCC could get the rest of the way was nine points with 4½ minutes left before the Reivers stretched their lead to 17.

The Blue Devils were led by Bryce Johnson, a 6-5 freshman forward from Lawrence who had 16 points; 6-3 Bahamian guard Joshua Dames with 15 points; and 6-6 sophomore Joshua Butler of Lee’s Summit West, who had 10 points. Jerry Maxinaud, a 6-6 freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had eight rebounds and 6-0 Shawnee Mission North guard Zach Nelson seven to lead the Blue Devils.

KCKCC bolted to a 32-15 lead in the first seven minutes against Link Year Prep, led 39-33 at halftime and didn’t give up the lead until the final 5:38 when the Lions went ahead 60-59. The Blue regained a 63-30 edge only to have Link Year Prep surge ahead 68-63 and then hold off two KCKCC rallies that closed to within three points in the final two minutes.

Four Blue Devils scored in double figures. Bradley Lightbourne, a 6-3 guard from the Bahamas, and Maxinaud had 14 points each while Dames added 11 and Butler 10. Zach Johnson had a big night directing the Blue Devils offensively, handing out a career high nine assists in 26 minutes. Maxinaud led in rebounds although the Lions had a 38-34 edge. Link Year Prep also had the better shooting night, knocking down 32-of-61 shots for 52.5 percent to 29-of-68 (.426) for KCKCC.