by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women built a 20-point lead against Brown Mackie Saturday, then had to resort to some long-range bombing to hold on for a 76-68 win.
Twice the Lady Larks closed the gap to three points and it took a rain of four three-point baskets for the Blue Devils to run their Region VI mark to 2-0 and overall record to 13-5.
It was a much-needed win because the No. 4 team nationally in NJCAA Division II is dead ahead as the Blue Devils go to Highland Wednesday. Beaten only by Division I Iowa Western, the high-flying Scotties are 17-1. The women tip off at 5:30 p.m., the men at 7:30 p.m. and both games will be streamed on the Highland website.
Trailing 41-26 at halftime and 54-45 after three quarters, Brown Mackie made a torrid run on the Blue Devils despite a squad of just six players. Millie Shade kept KCKCC’s lead at 57-52 with a 3-pointer with seven minutes left before the Blue Devils regained control. Aerial Holiday and Kayla Horn hit back-to-back threes, Shade and Horn added layups and Brie Tauai closed out a 13-2 run with another trey for a 70-57 lead with three minutes to go.
Playing in only her third game back after coming off the injury list, Shade led the Blue Devils with 20 points including four 3-pointers. She also led in steals with four. Brie Tauai returned to action for the first time in 2017, scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds; Kayla Horn had 11 points and led in rebounds with seven and assists with four; and Holiday had 11 points including three treys.
“We’re happy to be 2-0 in Region play, especially at the end of a week in which we played four games in six days,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “It was also nice to have everyone available; we are finally getting close to being completely healthy.”
However, the Blue Devils had to overcome 20 turnovers and just 36.8 percent shooting. While the run of four 3-point goals were decisive, they were just 10-of-34 from distance (29.4 percent).
“We are still trying to figure out how to play a complete game,” McKinstry said. “We stretched our lead to 20 points and then let most of it get away. So we need to be able to stay disciplined on both ends of the floor and not worry about the scoreboard. But that’s a very feisty Brown Mackie team so we’re very happy to walk away with a victory.”