by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s unbeaten women’s season came to an end Wednesday, a victim in no small part of its own misgivings.
Taking advantage of a season high 31 KCKCC turnovers, Highland pulled away in the closing minutes for an 82-71 win at Highland.
The win boosted the No. 7 ranked Lady Scotties to 17-1 on the season while No. 6 KCKCC fell to 16-1 with an even sterner test ahead. Unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Johnson County comes to KCKCC Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
The turnovers weren’t one-sided by any means. The Lady Blue Devils forced 27 Highland errors but couldn’t withstand a second half Scottie rally fed by 60.6 percent (20-of-33) shooting from the field.
KCKCC jumped off to a 19-13 first quarter lead and led by as many as seven points in the second quarter.
“We started with great effort and enthusiasm which allowed us to force Highland into 16 first half turnovers and kept them from making any big runs on us,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKisntry, whose Blue Devils led 35-34.
But the Scotties gained control with a 25-15 third quarter. Down by as many as 11 points, the Blue Devils closed to 54-50 only to have Highland respond with a pair of 3-pointers to go up 65-53.
“I felt Highland came out in the third quarter more energized than we did and as the half wore on, we grew tired and weren’t able to slow them down,” McKinstry said. “That’s on me. It’s my job as the head coach to put the team in position to succeed and tonight we were exposed as out of shape and unprepared.”
The one bright point for the Blue Devils was the play of freshman guard Brooklyn Wagler of Shawnee Mission Northwest. A perfect 8-of-8 from the field, Wagler had career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds.
“Brooklyn was fantastic,” McKinstry said. “As the game wore on, she was one of only a few of our players who was able to maintain the energy level that was needed.”
Sophomore Cheyenne North also had a double double for the Blue Devils with 12 pints and 12 rebounds while Sierra Roberts added 12 points and Erin Anderson nine points and five steals. Szonja Vukov led Highland with 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.