The smallest player on the floor proved to be the biggest for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s nationally ranked Lady Blue Devils Friday night.
Just 5-foo-5, third year sophomore Tiara Earnest not only paced all scorers with 20 points but led all rebounders with a dozen and added a game high four assists as the No. 7 ranked Blue Devils turned back No. 17 ranked North Central Missouri 67-60 in their toughest early season test.
The win came in the first round of the annual KCKCC Classic and the Blue Devils followed up with a 76-54 win over longtime rival Metropolitan Saturday night. The win was the fifth in a row for the unbeaten Blue Devils, who are right back in action Monday when they play host to Haskell junior varsity at 6 p.m.
De’Taria Guillroy added 11 points, Aysia Arrowood 10 and Mercer Roberts and Faith Putz 8 each for KCKCC. Arrowood also had five rebounds and Roberts and Guillroy four apiece as KCKCC had a 39-38 edge on the boards. More critical were free throws where the Blue Devils converted 19 of 27 (.704) to just 13 of 27 (.481) for North Central.
KCKCC trailed by as many as nine points late in the first quarter and still trailed 35-31 at the half. But the Pirates had no second half answer for Earnest, who scored 18 points including a trio of 3-pointers and seven of eight free throws.
The Blue Devils opened the second half with a 9-2 run to lead 40-37. The Pirates got back even at 46-46 before two Earnest 3-pointers and two Lacy Whitcomb free throws opened a 55-48 three-quarter lead. North Central went back ahead 56-55 but two field goals by Arrowood put KCKCC back in front 60-56 with a pair of layups and the Blue Devil defense took it from there, giving up only one field goal and two free throws in the final 4 ½ minutes. The Pirates did close to 60-59 before a rebound goal by Guillroy and four Earnest free throws sealed the win.
Four Blue Devils scored in double figures in the 76-54 win over Metro. Arrowood led with 15 points while Piper freshman Jennifer Guilbeaux added 12, Earnest and Putz 11 and Guillroy 8. Lacy Whitcomb led in rebounds with six although Metro dominated the boards 44-30.
KCKCC rushed to a 20-11 first quarter on 50 percent shooting and led the rest of the way. Metro was still within nine points 55-46 after three quarters before the Blue Devils finished with a 21-8 fourth quarter.