by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
It all starts Wednesday – what shapes up as the most furiously fought, highly contested Jayhawk Conference races in years.
You need to go no farther than a look at the NJCAA Division II national women’s poll to get an idea of the quality of conference teams – three of the top four teams in the nation. Johnson County (18-0) is No. 1, Highland (15-1) is No. 3 and Kansas City Kansas Community College (18-2) No. 4 and Fort Scott (14-2) and Labette (12-7) can’t be overlooked.
While not as loaded at the top of the men’s race, Highland (18-0) is No. 2 nationally and Johnson County (17-3) No. 10 but Labette (12-8), Fort Scott (11-8) and Hesston (10-8) all have winning records and KCKCC (8-12) is on a three-game winning streak. Fittingly perhaps, the top two teams in both races collide Wednesday when Highland goes to JCCC.
“We’re all starting with a clean slate; we’re all 0-0,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. Blue Devil teams will play host to Labette in their openers Wednesday, women at 5:30 and men at 7:30 p.m. Both KCKCC games will be streamed live on the college’s website at “www.kckcc.edu.
“Our attention goes straight to Labette,” Newton said. “The formula for conference play is win your home games and we have that opportunity against a very, very tough Labette team.”
On an eight-game winning streak, the Blue Devil women will be looking to make amends for last year’s 4-6 conference record.
“We’re playing really well and I like where we are it,” KCKCC women’s coach Joe McKinstry said. “I think we have just as good a chance (of winning). In the past I had to convince myself. Our sophomores have not beaten Johnson County, Highland or Labette yet – 0-7 last year. So we’ll find out if we’re as good as we think we are.
“One thing for sure. There will be no nights you can relax,” he said. “Our goal is to win a conference championship for the first time in more than 20 years. But regardless, whoever wins the conference will be as good as the national champion. Every year the last five years the conference has a team that finished in the top four of the national tournament – first (twice), second (twice) or third (once).”
Averaging 94.4 points a game, the Lady Blue Devils are the second highest scoring team in the nation. They are also third in the nation in assists per game (21.1), third in 3-point games (9.8) and ninth in rebounding (49.8).
With five players scoring in double figures and two more with 7½ points a game or better, balance has been KCKCC’s strength led by a front line trio of Nija Collier, Lillie Moore and Kisi Young, who combined are averaging 44 points and 28 rebounds a game and all three are shooting 57 percent or better from the field.
Collier leads with a double-double, 17.8 points and 11.0 rebounds. Moore is averaging 15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds; Young 10.7 points and 8.9 rebounds and is shooting a torrid 65.3 percent from the field.
Guards Camryn Swanson (12.2), Lenaejha Evans (11.8), Brodi Byrd (8.5) and Caroline Hoppock (7.8) have provided the perimeter scoring with Caitlyn Stewart (3.5 assists) and Lexi Watts (2.3) directing the offense. Swanson has 70 3-pointers this season, Byrd 41 and Hoppock 32.
Defense has been the strength of the KCKCC men. Allowing just 68.1 points a game, the Blue Devils are No. 8 in points given up nationally in Division II.
“With three wins in a row, I like our momentum going into the conference,” Newton said.
A pair of freshmen guards lead the Blue Devils. Jalen Davis is averaging 11.0 and Calvin Slaughter 9.8 followed by sophomore Arother Ratliff (8.2) and freshmen Daiyon Taylor (7.5), Taylor Turner (7.2) and Kelyn Bolton (6.4).
Taylor is coming off games of 26 and 32 points in a span of five days this past week. Bolton also leads in assists (3.5) while Taylor (4.5) and DuVonte’ Beard (4.4) lead rebounding.