Category: KCKCC

20-point duo leads Lady Blue Devils past Highland, 80-63

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Size doesn’t seem to matter, at least to the Kansas City Kansas Community College duo of Aliyah Myers and Tiaria Earnest.

Both guards scored 20 points and terrorized Highland defensively in the Blue Devils’ 80-63 home court win Saturday. It was the second straight game in which both Earnest and Myers have both scored 20 points.

The win boosted the No. 5 ranked Blue Devils’ record to 12-1 heading into a showdown at No. 2 ranked and unbeaten Labette in Parsons Wednesday. Because of COVID, the game will be Labette’s first in Jayhawk Conference play.

A 5-6 guard from Detroit, Earnest also led all rebounders with 11 and had three steals; the 5-7 Myers led in assists and steals with four of each.

Hannah Valentine, who was 5-for-6 from the field, added 15 points and seven rebounds; Aysia Arrowood a career high seven points; Faith Putz six and De’Jaria Guillory four points and six rebounds.

Knocking down 7 of their first 13 shots, the Blue Devils raced to leads of 10-0 and 15-2 in the first five minutes but had to turn back one Highland comeback.

Trailing 24-12 after one quarter, Highland outscored KCKCC 13-1 to start the second period to close to 25-24 and it was still 30-26 before a layup by De’Jaria Guillory and six straight points by Valentine widened the KCKCC lead to 38-26 at the half.

The Scotties never got closer as the Blue Devils stretched their lead to 50-33 in the first five minutes of the third quarter and led by as many as 27.

KCKCC led the rebounding 46-38 and forced 31 turnovers while committing 21.

“Two of our smallest players, Tiaria and DJ (Guillory) combined for 17 rebounds which just shows how much rebounding is a matter of effort,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said.

Earnest’s 20-point effort was her third 20-point game since returning from the injured list seven games back while Myers has been a mainstay both offensively and defensively.

“Both are returners and played significant roles last year so I think that has played into their comfort level and confidence,” McKinstry said. “Hannah Valentine has been better lately. She’s someone I don’t have to call plays for, she’s just active and does it on her own.

“I think this is the fourth time we’ve force 30 or more turnovers and we’ve done it with a man-to-man half-court defense. I’ve said all along this is the fastest and deepest team I’ve ever had. And our guards do a little bit of everything. Highland makes it a little tough because they spread the floor so much.”

Blue Devils sweep softball twin bill with pair of shutouts

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Kansas City Kansas Community College needed just 10 innings Saturday to sweep a a pair of shutouts from Central Nebraska 17-0 and 12-0.

The wins improved the Blue Devils’ record to 8-2 heading into the Crowder Bash in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Friday where they play Southeastern Iowa at 4 p.m. and Mineral Area at 6 p.m.

The lopsided wins enabled KCKCC coach Lana Ross to use her entire pitching staff. Breanna Droge allowed just one hit and struck out four in 3.1 innings of the opener before Samantha Reynolds finished up, retiring all five hitters she faced.

Nerida Elson pitched the first two innings of the second game, allowing two hits and striking out one. Bradi Basler pitched the third and fourth innings, allowing two hits with Regan Marsh working a hitless fifth.

Devin Purcell and Hannah Maurer each drove in five runs in the 17-0 opener, Purcell doubled and singled twice; Maurer doubled twice. Alyssa Seichepine also had a pair of hits in the 12-hitt attack.

Six Blue Devils had extra base hits in the 12-0 nightcap. Purcell homered, Alexis Rymer tripled and Savannah Maynard, Madison Pope, Alaina Howe and Basler each doubled while Georgia Faunt delivered a run-scoring pinch single

“We played well defensively behind good pitching,” KCKCC coach Lana Ross said. The Blue Devils had just one error in the two games. “We turned two double plays in the second game. It was a good day with every player contributing; very proud of the team coming out with a lot of energy and really doing a great job at the plate.”

Down 15-7, KCKCC stuns No. 7 Highland with 3-0 sweep

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Kansas City Kansas Community College got an early wakeup call Saturday. Trailing No. 7 Highland 15-7 in the first set, the Blue Devils responded with their biggest comeback in recent seasons for a stunning 3-0 sweep of their long-time arch rivals.

“It’s so easy to roll over when you get that far down but this group of athletes does not know how not to compete,” said a jubilant KCKCC coach Mary Bruno-Ballou. “One of our best performances, for sure. That’s the most we’ve been down this year.” The loss was only the second in nine matches for Highland.

Led by sophomore Michelle Dvorak, the Blue Devils bounced back from the 15-7 deficit with an 18-7 run to close out a 25-22 win and then followed with 25-21 and 25-22 wins.

Dvorak had five of her nine kills in the match in the first set. Bruno-Ballou said the 15-7 deficit was a result of self-inflicted wounds.

“Of Highland’s first 15 points, 12 were the result of our unforced errors. Otherwise, we were playing well,” she said.

Cassidy Crist powered the Blue Devils to their clinching third set win with nine of her 16 kills. “And Kelcey Hund and Nicole Almestica played fantastic defense,” Bruno-Ballou said.

The Blue Devils came into the match off two narrow losses earlier in the week. No. 4 Johnson County had to come from behind for a 3-1 win on Tuesday and Allen County did likewise in eking out a five-set win on Thursday.

Allen County won two sets that went right down to the wire in a match that had 122 kills and 227 digs. The Blue Devils jumped in front 25-21 but Allen held on for a 25-23 second set victory and then broke three late ties for a 26-24 third set win. The Blue Devils evened the match 25-20 only to have the Red Devils win the final set 15-11.

“It was not a pretty loss,” Bruno-Ballou said. “We had 25 hitting errors and 19 service errors, basically two full sets of things we can control.”

Crist had 20 kills, Dvorak 16 and Trinity Holland 12 while Adriana Velez had 54 assists and 22 digs. Hund led with 30 digs while Crist added 20, Almestica 16 and Mia Tomasic 14.

The Highland win boosted the Blue Devils to 8-7 heading into a Jayhawk Conference match at Neosho County Monday at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Devils then return home for a triangular Thursday with KCKCC playing Cowley College at 4 p.m. and Metropolitan at 8 p.m.