by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Easily crowned champion of the Southeast Nebraska Holiday Classic with an 88-52 win over host Southeast Saturday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s No. 6 ranked Lady Blue Devils immediately turned their focus on the biggest non-conference game of the season.
Metropolitan Community College, which knocked KCKCC (13-2) out of the unbeaten ranks with a 76-74 win on the Penn Valley campus Nov. 17, comes to the KCKCC Field House Tuesday for a 6 p.m. rematch.
The Blue Devils then close out pre-holiday play Friday when they play host to Des Moines Area Community College, also at 6 p.m.
The inside-outside punch of Lillie Moore and Camryn Swanson powered KCKCC to the 88-52 win over Southeast in Beatrice.
Moore and Swanson shared game scoring honors with 21 points each; Moore adding 15 rebounds (eight offensive) and 11-of-13 free throws while Swanson’s season high 21 points all came on 3-pointers, 7-of-14 along with four assists.
“Lillie worked her tail off today and probably should have been awarded more free throws that she got but she had a great game,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “And Camryn stepped up big for us and nailed shots from the perimeter when we needed them.”
Nija Collier led KCKCC to a 66-45 domination of the boards with 16 rebounds (seven offensive) while Kisi Young added nine and Brodi Byrd a season high eight. Bryd and Collier also scored eight points each.
Led by Swanson, the Blue Devils drained 14 3-pointers and shot better from distance (.389) than for the game (.358). Caroline Hoppock was 3-for-6 in a 10-point performance while Lizzie Stark knocked down 2-of-3 treys.
The Blue Devils, who led 22-11 after one quarter and 41-21 at the half, also made 16-of-19 free throws.
Caitlin Stewart, Lenaejha Evans and Swanson shared assist honors with four as the Blue Devils had assists on 21 of 29 field goals.
Defensively, KCKCC limited Southeast to just 17-of-71 field goal attempts (23.9 per cent) and no 3-pointers in 13 tries. The Blue Devils also forced 21 turnovers but were guilt of 22 of their own.
“A good weekend for our group,” McKinstry said. “We’re still learning a lot about ourselves. It’s always great to get victories while you try and learn and get better.”