by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
While youth and inexperience proved costly at times this season, it also gives hope to an optimistic future for Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball.
Nearly 95 percent of this year’s offense returns next season to a team that finished 21-11 playing arguably the toughest schedule in NJCAA Division II.
Each of the 11 losses came as the hands of a team ranked in the Top 20 at point in the season including three teams out of Region VI – No. 3 Highland, No. 10 Labette and No. 11 Johnson County.
“Looking back, I think of those 11 losses we had a shot to win six, maybe seven,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We were in position to win more games but did not have the experience to come out on top. I think all but five games were decided by three possessions or less. We just didn’t do what’s necessary, didn’t get a stop defensively, turned the ball over, did not grab the key rebound. To win more games against top opponents, we have to do the things that don’t show up in the box score – block out on rebounds, set screens and make better decisions.
“On the other hand, I’m excited for our future. For this group to win 21 games and compete like they did all year with zero experience at this level says a lot about the talent and ability of this team. We know we left three or four wins out there so I think we’ll be able to take that as a motivation on to the off-season and looking ahead for next year.”
The Blue Devils lose just one sophomore, 5-9 guard Alix Wilson out of St. Joseph (Mo.) Lafayette, who started 25 games, averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists and provided invaluable leadership. “I’m extremely grateful for her dedication and hard work the past two seasons,” McKinstry said. “She definitely represented our program on and off the court and was a true ambassador for what I want this program to be about.”
Heading the returnees will be a trio of forwards who averaged in double figures in scoring and ranked in the Top Five in Region VI statistics. Kisi Young led Region VI in shooting percentage (.601), finished fourth in scoring (14.3) and third in rebounding (8.1); Niji Collier led in rebounding (8.9) and was fifth in field goal percentage (.532) while averaging 10.9 points; and Lillie Moore was fifth in scoring (13.6) and rebounds (7.9). In addition, Caitlin Stewart was second in assists (4.1) and Gena Ojeda second in 3-point percentage (.408).
Miya Ford of Piper was fourth (7.4) and Ashley Daniels of F.L. Schlagle fifth (6.8) in scoring followed by Camryn Swanson, 5.5; Lizzie Stark, 4.3; Ojeda, 4.1; and Stewart, 3.4. As a team, the Blue Devils outscored opponents by nearly 10 points a game (77.3-67.4) and had 11½ more rebounds a game (45.1-33.8).
But the Blue Devils also averaged 21.3 turnovers a game, 24.1 in regional play.
“A huge, huge problem. We can’t win games with that many turnovers,” McKinstry said. “The first half in our playoff game at Highland we were down nine points and I was pretty happy. But we also had 18 shots and 19 turnovers. We have to get better ball-handling, decision-making, everything.”
The Blue Devils have two commitments for next season, a forward and a shooting guard, and the return of 5-10 guard Caroline Hoppock of Olathe East, who averaged 7.5 points in a handful of early games before being injured.
“Physically, we’ve got a lot coming back,” McKinstry said. “I think we had eight different girls leading us in scoring, It’s a great spot to be in at this level where there’s a lot of player turnover from year to year.”