Blue Devils seek Jayhawk Conference lead Wednesday
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s hard-charging Blue Devils bulled their way into the thick of the Jayhawk Conference men’s basketball race Saturday.
Handing Highland its most decisive loss of the season 91-73, the Blue Devils set up a home showdown with No. 11 ranked Johnson County Wednesday for undisputed possession of the conference lead they share at 3-1.
The win was the fourth in the row for the Blue Devils (11-12) and ended a streak of six straight losses at the hand of the Scotties (15-7).
Spectacular offensive performances by Jalen Davis, Deron McDaniel and Calvin Slaughter were the catalysts in the win at Highland. The trio combined for 14 3-point field goals and 68 points on 25-of-41 shooting as the Blue Devils sizzled from the field with 53.8 percent overall including 15-of-30 from the perimeter.
“Hats off to our guys,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “A tremendous job and effort all around. To be able shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point is amazing. We did a great job sharing the ball and our defensive effort the past three games has been phenomenal.”
Davis led all scorers with 29 points including 5-of-6 3-pointers in a 10-of-14 shooting effort; McDaniel knocked down 6-of-10 treys and handed out five assists in scoring 23 points; and Slaughter had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Jermaine Yarbough added eight points and Ezekiel Lopes seven. Led by Robert Rhodes’ 13 rebounds and Slaughter’s 11, the Blue Devils held their own on the boards (36-36).
Davis and Slaughter teamed up to put the Blue Devils in command by scoring 16 straight points early in the first half. Highland led 10-6 when Davis and Slaughter drained 3-pointers to put KCKCC ahead to stay 12-10 and over the next three minutes, each knocked down a trey and Slaughter a layup for a 20-10 lead. Lopes added a layup and two McDaniel 3-pointers finished off a 22-2 explosion that opened a 28-12 lead.
Davis finished the half with 21 points including all five of his 3-pointers; McDaniel added three treys and Slaughter two and each scored 10 points as KCKCC opened a 50-33 halftime lead.
Guilty of just two turnovers in the opening half (eight total), the Blue Devils were 18-of-35 (.514) and 10-of-21 from three (.476), Meanwhile, the Scotties were limited to 27-of-64 shots (.422) and just 5-of-15 from distance.
Highland twice got within six points in the second half. A McDaniel trey and Yarbough dunk stopped the first rally; a Slaughter 3-pointer and layup sandwiched around a Yarbough tip-in rejected the last challenge with five minutes remaining.
“We have had different guys step up each night and been shooting the ball exceptionally well, both keys to our wins,” Burgette said. “I told our guys to believe and they are trusting each other and believing. At the end of the year, we have to be at our best and we’re pushing along to being better every night.”
A 73-57 winner over Hesston Saturday, Johnson County will bring a 20-4 record into Wednesday’s 7:30 p.m. game at KCKCC. The game will follow KCKCC’s Academic Achievement Night ceremonies following the 5:30 p.m. women’s game. In Saturday’s other game, Fort Scott defeated Labette 74-55.