by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
But for a couple of inches, Kansas City Kansas Community College would hold the biggest upset of the year in the Jayhawk Conference.
On the road at No. 4 ranked Highland Wednesday, the Blue Devils had Daiyon Taylor’s rebound shot bounce off the front of the rim at the horn in a heartbreaking 60-59 loss.
The win kept the Scotties (26-2) tied with Johnson County for first place in the conference while the Blue Devils (14-15) remained tied with Labette for third place with one game to go – a home game with Johnson County (25-4) at Sophomore Day Saturday at 4 p.m. Highland and JCCC are both 8-1 in the league; KCKCC and Labette 4-5.
A 69-61 winner over KCKCC earlier, the Scotties opened a 27-16 lead late in the half and seemingly were in control with a 31-24. Not so by any stretch of the imagination. Field goals by Jonathan Richmond and Kelyn Bolton and a 3-pointer by Calvin Slaughter got the Blue Devils even 31-31 and set up perhaps the most hotly contested second half of the season.
Neither team led by more than three points and for most of the time the two teams traded one-point leads. Each team led five times and seven times they were tied.
Ahead 56-53 with 5:21 left, KCKCC fell behind 57-56 before Slaughter regained the lead 59-57 with a basket and one of two free throws with 2:17 remaining.
Tristen Hull pulled Highland back even with two free throws and after a Blue Devil turnover, Jaquan Daniels made one of three free throws with 55 seconds left and a 60-59 Highland lead.
The Blue Devils got two more chances. A turnover cost them the first opportunity but they got the last chance on a Scottie miscue with nine seconds left – a short base-line jump shot Taylor that was blocked by the 6-7 Hull. Taylor, however, got the rebound and falling away, had his game-winning attempt hit the front of the rim.
“Extremely proud of the guys,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “We put ourselves in a position to win the game against a very good team. It all came down to a couple of possessions.”
Arother Ratliff led the Blue Devils, knocking down 4-of-5 3-pointers in scoring 16 points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking three shots.
Slaughter added 11 points, a team high eight rebounds and three assists; and Taylor had 10 points and three rebounds. Bolton and Malcolm Tate had six points each, Tate on a pair of treys.
“The second half we were able to match Highland’s level and competed the whole way,” Newton said. “Calvin and Kelyn played inspired; DuVonte’ Beard was outstanding on the defensive end. Daiyon had some big-time offensive rebounds and put backs. Arother made some great plays. A total team effort. Now we have to respond from this on Saturday against another great team and ranked opponent, No. 8 Johnson County.”
The Blue Devils made 9-of-20 3-pointers (.450), four by Ratliff and two each by Slaughter and Tate, and were 21-of-52 for 40.4 percent from the field while limiting the Scotties to 20-of-57 (.351) including just 7-of-25 threes. Highland won the rebound battle 41-32 and had just seven turnovers to 11 for KCKCC.
Saturday’s game will be the final regular home season contest for three Blue Devil sophomores, Malcolm Tate, DuVonte’ Beard and Arother Ratliff.