by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
In a season already filled with standout performances, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s unbeaten and No. 8 ranked Lady Blue Devils established yet another standard Monday – three players with double-doubles.
Sophomores Erin Anderson and Cheyenne North and freshman Brooklyn Wagler each recorded double figures in scoring and rebounding in an 82-70 win over Livin’ The Dream, a team made up of former area college standouts.
The win was the 14th in a row for KCKCC heading into back-to-back games against North Central Wednesday and the Kansas Nuggets Thursday. Both games will have 5 p.m. tipoffs with Thursday’s contest followed by a Blue Devil men’s game with Wentworth Military Academy.
North, Anderson and Wagler all had career highs in rebounding. North led with 17 along with 14 points; Anderson had 15 points and 12 rebounds; and Wagler 12 points and 12 rebounds. Arrica Daye added 12 points as all 10 Blue Devils scored and nine had at least one rebound. Wagler, Anderson and Daye also had four assists and Sierra Roberts four steals and Anderson three.
“I was very pleased with our team rebounding effort,” said coach Joe McKinstry, whose Blue Devils dominated the boards 61-35. “On nights when we don’t shoot the ball very well (.386), we can give ourselves a great chance of winning if we rebound on both ends of the floor like we did tonight.”
Deadlocked 13-13 after one quarter, the Blue Devils scored the first 15 points of the second quarter and led by as many as 22 points midway through the third quarter only to have Livin’ The Dream get within 11 points in the final period.
“It was a very good test for us after a long holiday break (23 days),” McKinstry said. “When we play with effort and enthusiasm, good things happened and we were able to separate ourselves.”
Kelsey Balcom, a former Emporia State and Mid-America Nazarene standout, led Livin’ The Dream will 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.