by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s game at Penn Valley Tuesday night ran just a second too long for the Blue Devils.
Fouled with one second remaining, Tre Wells made one of two free throws to give Penn Valley a 72-71 win. The foul came after KCKCC freshmen Braseson Sester converted a 3-point play with 18 seconds to tie the game.
The loss left the Blue Devils at 8-2 after Neosho County had to forfeit an earlier win for use of an ineligible player and sets up the start of the Jayhawk Conference season Saturday when KCKCC hosts Labette in a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m.
Fouls proved costly to the Blue Devils at Penn Valley as the Scouts took advantage of 25 KCKCC fouls and the loss of two starters to convert 27 of 38 free throws to offset a 25-20 disadvantage in field goals and 53.1percent KCKCC shooting.
Sophomore C.J. Vallejo led the Blue Devils with 18 points and eight rebounds while freshmen Joe Lendway and Austin Hall added 13 points each.
Hall also had seven rebounds and Sester six. Ray Ridley led in assists with six along with eight points while Armoni Shorter added seven points off the bench.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.