by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College packed enough drama into its game with heavily favored Iowa Western to last for a full season Tuesday night.
Trailing 70-67, the Blue Devils got a desperation 50-foot ‘Hail Mary’ 3-pointer from mid-court from Mike Lee Jr. to force overtime and then got another game-tying 3-pointer from Kellen Turner in the closing seconds of overtime before Iowa Western escaped with an 80-78 win.
“That was one heckuva college basketball game,” said Iowa Western coach Michael Johnette, whose Reivers had beaten KCKCC by 31 points (92-81) in an earlier meeting in Council Bluffs. A perennial NJCAA Division I power, Iowa Western marked its 10th win in 12 starts.
KCKCC trailed 67-62 with less than 30 seconds left in regulation but got a rebound basket from Daniel Kingcannon and a layup from Turner with six seconds to go and then Lee got the opening he needed when Iowa Western’s Jeremiah Jefferson missed the second of two free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining. His game-tying 50-footer settled in the net as time expired.
Iowa Western twice led by as many as four points in overtime but a 3-pointer by Lane Hartley and a layup by Donald Metoyer closed the gap to 78-75 and this time it was Turner who tied it with a 3-pointer with 14 seconds to go. But the gutsy Blue Devil effort came up short when Donovan Walker was fouled on a drive to the basket. His two free throws with 2.8 seconds left won it even though Lee did get up another desperation try at the horn. Iowa Western had just two overtime goals but made six of eight free throws.
“An outstanding effort, I can’t say enough,” said KCKCC coach Kelley Newton. “I just hope this carries over into the rest of the season.” The Blue Devils close out pre-holiday play Saturday afternoon against Iowa Lakes in Estherville.
The Blue Devils got off to a spectacular start, surging to a 24-6 lead midway through the first half behind 66.7 percent shooting (10-of-15). Jon Murray and Lee led the way with 10 points each and Turner added nine to keep KCKCC in front 33-27 at the half.
Iowa Western finally pulled even 37-37 four minutes into the second half and from there on it was a furious give-and-take battle with a half-dozen ties. Iowa Western’s biggest lead was 53-48 but two goals by Murray and a 3-pointer by Kingcannon evened it a 55-55 and set up the big finish capped by Lee’s spectacular tying shot that brought everyone off the KCKCC bench.
The game was highlighted by one of the best rebounding performances in KCKCC history, a 22-rebound performance by Jon Murray that was fourth best ever, trailing only Bobby Harris (28) and Dennis Tinnon (23 twice). Murray also led the Blue Devils in scoring with 19 points before fouling out late in the overtime. It was his 10th double double of the season.
Lee also had a double double with a career high 10 assists, 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals awhile Turner had 19 points including 5-of-7 3-pointers and four steals. Led by Murray, KCKCC had a 47-38 command on the rebounding but committed 18 turnovers including two in overtime.