by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College picked the worst possible time for a scoring drought at Washburn University junior varsity Monday night.
Leading 74-71 on a Nija Collier 3-pointer with 3:06 remaining, the Lady Blue Devils (10-2) failed to score again and dropped a disappointing 76-74 decision.
The loss came after KCKCC had defeated the Lady Ichabods 86-56 in the second game of the season.
Turnovers proved to be the Blue Devils’ downfall – 32 total including a game-wrecking five in the final three minutes and just one field goal attempt.
The miscues cleared the way for Washburn’s Adyson Harber to tie the game with a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining and then win it with two free throws in the final 20 seconds.
The first came after a steal with 20 seconds left; the second with one second left after KCKCC turned the ball over in pursuit of a game-winning field goal.
“Turnovers killed us all night,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We’re careless and don’t learn from our mistakes. We can’t be taken seriously as a top ranked team when we can’t take care of the ball against a 2-3 zone.”
The loss was particularly frustrating because the Blue Devils scored the game’s first 14 points and led by 15 points (38-23) midway through the second quarter.
Converting 17-of-29 field goal attempts for 58.6 percent, KCKCC led 47-35 at the half.
But the Blue Devils were outscored 41-27 the second half. Limited to just 7-of-20 field goal attempts (.350) and 12-of-19 free throws, the Blue Devils further compounded their woes with a whopping 19 second-half turnovers.
The Blue Devils’ front line of Kisi Young, Lillie Moore and Collier combined for 57 points on 19 of 28 shooting. Young (7-of-9) and Collier (9-of-13) each scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Moore made 11-of-16 free throws on the way to a 17-point, nine rebound performance.
Camryn Swanson added a pair of 3-pointers but the Blue Devils managed only three other field goals.
Narber had 21 points and Kenya Medlock 20 to lead Washburn (4-2) in a game that had two ties and two lead changes in the final minutes.
KCKCC soundly outrebounded the Ichabods 50-33 but it wasn’t enough to offset the 32 turnovers. Washburn also outscored KCKCC 36-15 from 3-point, the Ichabods making 12-of-32 including 7-of-11 the second half to KCKCC’s one of seven.
The Blue Devils now have three days before returning to action in the Northeast Nebraska Classic in Beatrice Friday and Saturday.
KCKCC faces Central Nebraska Friday at 2 p.m. and host Northeast Saturday at 6 p.m. before returning home next Tuesday against Metropolitan Community College.