by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kelley Newton took a big first step Saturday in preparing his Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils for the upcoming Jayhawk Conference season.
With Newton going to his bench early and often, the Blue Devils got several career best performances in rolling to a 74-50 win over OnPoint Hoops Academy, a basketball academy located in Reno, Okla.
The first of three games in six days for KCKCC, the win set up a big re-match with long-time rival Penn Valley Tuesday at 7 p.m. KCKCC took a one-point win at Penn Valley in their first meeting. The Scouts will be followed by Wentworth Military Academy Thursday, also at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, the unbeaten and No. 8 ranked KCKCC women are home Monday against Livin’ The Dream at 7 p.m. and North Central Wednesday at 5 p.m. before both teams head into conference play Jan. 13.
Playing almost exactly as many minutes as the starters, reserves contributed 34 points and nearly 60 percent (40) of the Blue Devils’ season-high 68 rebounds.
“A great way to start the new year and a good team effort and that was important,” Newton said. “We’re going to need everybody when we get into conference play.”
Career bests off the bench included Lashawn Lewis, a near double-double with 12 rebounds along with nine points; Garrick McCuller, 10 points; Donald Metoyer, eight rebounds and five points in just nine minutes; Armoni Shorter, seven rebounds and a pair of three-pointers; and Trevor Young, seven rebounds and four points.
Jonathan Murray also had a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while Dehaven Talley also had 12 points and Mike Lee eight assists.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.