by Alan Hoskins
Two Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball teammates, Jamisha Crawford and Bailey West, will take their talents to Peru State in Peru, Neb., this fall.
Crawford, a 5-1 guard from Washington High School, played only the second half of her sophomore season after being injured in her second game as a freshman while West played in all 32 games in helping the Lady Blue Devils post a 24-8 record, KCKCC’s best mark since 1997.
A 5-11 forward from Burke High School in Omaha, West started 12 games this past season while averaging 6.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. A two-year performer, she averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds as a freshman. A defensive standout, Crawford averaged 2.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and one assist per game in 17 contests.
KCKCC coach Valerie Stambersky said Crawford and West chose Peru State because of the beauty of and atmosphere of the campus and that it offers majors in their chosen fields, Crawford in Athletic Training and West in Education.
“Both felt that it was a good fit, that the coach was nice but not too nice and that the team was looking to make changes that would make a difference,” Stambersky said. “Jamisha will really be able to hound and defend and create havoc in the backcourt while Bailey’s versatility inside and out will provide a lot of opportunities to be effective offensively. They’ll both do a good job.”