by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Lady Blue Devils shot just as well as unbeaten Labette and rebounded better but it wasn’t enough to overcome a lopsided setback in turnovers Wednesday.
Turning 26 turnovers into a rash of field goals, the No. 12 ranked Lady Cardinals ran their Region VI record to 4-0 and overall record to 20-3 with a 77-67 win. The loss dropped KCKCC to 3-2 in regional play and 15-7 overall heading into a 2 p.m. clash Saturday with second place and No. 5 ranked Johnson County in Overland Park.
Labette stung the Blue Devils with the most first quarter points given up in taking a 24-17 lead and extended it to 45-32 at halftime. It should have been a knockout blow but the Blue Devils won the second half battle 35-32 and closed to within eight points on several occasions.
“We did a lot of really good things against a very talented team,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “I was really pleased with our effort and felt like we competed for four quarters, which has been an issue for us this season. But it hurts to lose a game to a ranked opponent when you didn’t make them earn it. Our turnovers have been a problem and tonight it was extremely detrimental to the outcome. We also missed way too many shots around the basket and free throws (10 misses in 23 attempts).”
Brie Tauai came off the KCKCC bench to lead the Blue Devils in scoring with 17 points while Millie Shade added 14 and Brooklyn Wagler 13. At 5-11 KCKCC’s tallest starter, Shade had eight rebounds, Ky’Ana French seven, Tauai six and Wagler five as the Blue Devils had a 42-39 rebound edge against a Labette team that started four players 6-foot or taller.
KCKCC stayed with the Cardinals shooting-wise the first half, hitting 50 percent to Labette’s 51.6 percent but could not overcome 17 turnovers in falling behind 45-32. The Blue Devils closed to 50-42 early in the second half but missed a pair of wide open layups before Labette ran off nine straight points and then held on by keeping the lead at eight points or more.
“I told our team to hold their heads high when we leave the locker room and if anything, they should be able to see that with a few adjustments in our play, we are a very good team that can compete with anyone,” McKinstry said.