Category: Sports

by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College has lost sophomore forward Clay Young of Lansing for the season.

Tests confirmed Tuesday that Young had suffered a torn ACL in the Blue Devils’ 78-70 win over St. Louis Community College Saturday night.

One of only two returning veterans from last year, the 6-4 forward averaged 10.0 points and was the second leading rebounder with 5.6 per game as a freshman. He had personal highs of 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Young was playing in only his second game this season when he was injured. He had nine points and four rebounds in his only other game.

Young was a first team All-KVL selection and 5A all-state honorable mention at Lansing, where he averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

“A big loss; a big, big loss,” said KCKCC coach Kelley Newton. “Not only was he one of only two returnees but he was an emotional and court leader for us; he could help guys on the floor while playing. But his future remains bright. He’s a great young man, good student, hard worker. He’ll get a medical redshirt so he’ll still have three years of college eligibility.”

This is the second year in a row that Newton lost one of his two returning veterans. Last year, guard Antonio Winn suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the season.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.

by Alan Hoskins

Kansas City Kansas Community College built up a 14-point first half lead but then had to hold on for a 90-84 road win at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs Tuesday night.

The win was the sixth in a row for the unbeaten Blue Devils, who will get their stiffest tests of the season this weekend when they play Dodge City Friday at 7 p.m. and Neosho County Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Dodge City Classic.

Hot shooting and balanced scoring carried the Blue Devils at Iowa Western. KCKCC was 18 of 32 for 56.3 percent in building a 47-33 halftime lead and finished with 52.0 percent (13 of 25) in the second half to hold off a 51-point second half by the Reivers, who were 18 of 34 for 52.9 percent.

Three Blue Devils, sophomore C.J. Vallejo and freshmen Austin Hall and Joe Lendway, had 21 points each to lead the way. Soph Ray Ridley added 11 points and frosh Tevin Downing 9 and both had four assists as the five KCKCC starters scored all but seven points.

“It was a great program win,” said head coach Kelley Newton. “Iowa Western has a long history of producing really good teams and players. Austin Hall, C.J. Vallejo and Joe Lendway all were outstanding with 21 points each and we put a lot of pressure on them defensively. But the thing I was most proud was that we answered ever run Iowa Western made.”

The Blue Devils were particularly efficient from 3-point range, hitting 10 of 19 including a perfect 4-for-4 by Hall and 4-of-5 by Vallejo. Hall also had six rebounds, Downing five and Vallejo and Lendway four each.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.

by Alan Hoskins

Winner of five straight after a 91-45 thumping of Saint Mary junior varsity Tuesday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s basketball team turned its focus on this weekend’s KCKCC Classic and a possible first round clash of unbeaten teams.

The Blue Devils will take on Jefferson College of Hillsboro, Mo., Friday at 7 p.m. after Labette and Wentworth collide in the opener at 5 p.m. Jefferson is 4-0 and averaging nearly 80 points game heading into a home game tonight with Southeastern Illinois while the Lady Blue Devils are averaging 92 points in their 5-0 start. In Saturday action, Labette and Jefferson will meet at 2 p.m. with KCKCC playing Wentworth at 4 p.m.

Nine Blue Devils scored seven or more points in the win over Saint Mary at Leavenworth. Cierra Gaines led with 14 while Rashaun Casey and Ky’Ana French added 12 points each, Sierra Roberts 11, Janai Mitchell and Iland Shurn 8 apiece and Cassidy Harbert, Cheyenne North and Julia Garrard 7 each.

“We continue to get good balance and production off the bench,” said KCKCC coach Valerie Stambersky. No Blue Devil starter played the final 12 minutes.

Three-point shooting continued to be a big part of the KCKCC arsenal as the Blue Devils matched their season high with 11 treys. Casey led with four while Gaines, Roberts and French each had a pair.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.