by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s hopes for a first-round women’s playoff berth took a major setback at Fort Scott Wednesday.
Scoring early and often in front of a boisterous home crowd, the Lady Greyhounds (4-6) raced to an 85-62 win and pulled within one game of the Blue Devils (5-5) in the battle for fourth place with two games to go. KCKCC closes out regular season play against two nationally ranked powers – at No. 14 Labette Saturday and at home against No. 3 Johnson County next Wednesday. Fort Scott, meanwhile, goes to No. 8 Highland Saturday and then finishes at home against Brown Mackie on Wednesday.
KCKCC took a 62-56 win over Fort Scott at home Jan. 28 but the Lady Blue Devils were never in contention as the Greyhounds built a 44-31 halftime lead and led by as many as 31 points in the second half. The 85 points are the most scored against a Jayhawk Conference team by the Greyhounds, who came into the game averaging 65.6 points a contest.
Control of the rebounding was a major factor in Fort Scott’s 44-31 first half. Not only did the Greyhounds control the boards 25-13 but pulled down nine at the offensive end to only one for the Blue Devils, who were also guilty of 10 turnovers and just 27 percent shooting.
“From the very tip, we did not match their intensity,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “It was a great atmosphere for Fort Scott tonight and we simply didn’t come to play.”
Five Blue Devils had eight or more points with Brie Tauai the leader with 15. Brooklyn Wagler added 13 points; Millie Shade 12, all on 3-pointers; Kayla Horn 9 and Whitney Hazlett. At just 5-7, Horn led all rebounders with eight while Tauai added six and Shade and Hazlett five each.
KCKCC was limited to six field goals (27.3 percent) the first half while Fort Scott was 16-of 36 for 44.4 percent before the Greyhounds sizzled in the second half, making 17-of-30 for 56.7 percent. In all 11 players scored for Fort Scott.