Tag: KCKCC women’s basketball

Three all-region picks head eight KCKCC statistical leaders

The 2019 NJCAA DII All-Region basketball team included three KCKCC sophomores – first teamers Kisi Young (20) and Nija Collier (14) and second teamer Lillie Moore (5). They were among eight Blue Devils finishing among the Region VI statistical leaders. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Three members of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s national championship basketball team named to the 2019 All-Region VI team head a list of eight Blue Devils finishing among the top five in six statistical categories.

Nija Collier and Kisi Young were named to the first team and Lillie Moore to the second team. All three sophomores were also named to the All-Jayhawk Conference team and the NJCAA DII All-Tournament team.

The Jayhawk Player of the Year, Collier was the only player to finish in the top four statistical categories, finishing second in scoring (17.3), rebounding (9.7) and field goal percentage (.585) and third in 3-point percentage (.400).

Young led the Region VI in field goal percentage for the second straight year, shooting 63.9 percent from the field and also finishing third in rebounds while Moore was fourth in scoring (14.7) and rebounding (9.1).

The Blue Devils also boasted three of the top four leaders in assists and two of the top four 3-point leaders. Caitlyn Stewart was second in assists (3.2), Lexy Watts third (3.0) and Lenaejha Evans fourth (2.9) while Camryn Swanson was third (2.4) and Brodi Byrd fourth (2.1) in 3-point goals per game. Evans and Byrd are both freshmen. A third KCKCC freshman, Caroline Hoppock, was seventh in 3-point goals with 1.5 per game.

Collier and Young were joined on the All-Region first team by Stephania Chiziane and Janiiya Davis of Highland and Jessica Martino. Chiziane led the region in scoring with 18.1 per game. Hesston’s Essence Tolson, who led the conference in rebounding (13.2); Johnson County’s Jaci Stowers and Paige Elston; and Labette’s Upe Atosu joined Young on the second team.

Lady Blue Devils cruise to third straight win, 86-41

by Alan Hoskins

Perfect through three games at home following an 86-41 win over Central Methodist JV Tuesday night, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Lady Blue Devils take to the road for the first time with games tonight and Saturday.

The Blue Devils’ road trips will take them to North Central in Trenton today at 5:30 p.m. and then to North Arkansas Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest before returning home for the annual Keith Lindsey Classic Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14.

Despite frigid three-point shooting in the opening half – one of 10 – the Blue Devils still opened a 19-7 first quarter lead and stretched it to 45-19 at halftime in the win over Central Methodist. The perimeter shooting got better the second half (7 of 18) as the Blue Devils shot a respectable 43.4 percent for the game.

Sierra Roberts, whose seven 3-point goals against Sterling on Saturday were just one off the KCKCC record of eight held by Rashaun Casey, led the way with five three-pointers and 22 points. Erin Andrews and Aricca Daye added 16 points each, Valencia Scott 10 and Kyliea Jarrett 8.

Anderson also led all rebounders with 10 along with five assists and five steals; Roberts added nine rebounds and led in assists with six; and Daye had five assists and four steals. Limiting Central Methodist to three offensive rebounds, KCKCC got excellent rebounding balance with Janay Jacobs and Brooklyn Wagler adding eight each.

“I like the fact that when we don’t shoot the ball well from the perimeter we were still able to come up with 22 offensive rebounds and that our rebounding and pressure defense can keep us in the game on nights when the shots don’t fall,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “Obviously, Sierra Roberts’ 22 points were outstanding but I was more impressed by her nine rebounds and six steals which shows how hard she’s playing and always in the right place. And Erin Anderson with 16 points, her second straight 10 rebound game and five assists and five steals, continues to fill up a stat sheet.”

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.

KCKCC coach humbled by 2014 WCBA awards ceremony

A photo with Connecticut coach legend Geno Auriemma was one of the highlights of KCKCC’s Valerie Stambersky during her trip to the women’s Final Four where she was one of three nominees for community college Coach of the Year – and Auriemma’s U-Conn team won a record ninth national championship. (KCKCC photo by Damian Stambersky)

by Alan Hoskins

It was a day Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball coach Valerie Stambersky will never forget.

A photo with Connecticut Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma. Sharing the spotlight with Notre Dame Coach of the Year Muffet McGraw. Recognition as one of three community college Coach of the Year nominees.

“It’s such a huge, huge honor and so humbling. I really didn’t feel I deserved to be in the same room with some of the people and what they had done,” said Stambersky of the 30th annual convention of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) held Monday in the Broadway Ballroom of the Omni Nashville Hotel, site of the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Trenia Tillis Jones, who took Tyler Junior College from an 11-19 record in 2013 to a 30-6 season, national tournament appearance and No. 11 national ranking in 2014, was named Russell Athletic-WBCA Community College Coach of the Year award over Stambersky and Ned Mircetic of Ventura College, the Coach of the Year in 2009.

In her 15th year at KCKCC, Stambersky took the Lady Blue Devils from a 10-21 record in 2013 to a 24-8 mark in 2014 with six of the eight losses coming to teams ranked in the Top Five in Division II.

“If I had won, it would not have been what I did but a tribute to my staff and the players for what they did throughout the season,” Stambersky said.

This year’s award was especially special because it is the Pat Summit Award named in honor of the winningest basketball coach (men’s or women’s) in NCAA Division I history with 1,098 career victories. Summit stepped down as head coach in April 2012 after leading Tennessee to eight NCAA Division I national championships. She was named Division I national coach of the year three times.

Stambersky and all other nominees in six coaching levels (NCAA Division I, II and II, NAIA, community college and high school) were introduced via video to a crowd of more than 400 at the awards ceremony. Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw repeated as NCAA Division I Coach of the Year after leading the Irish to an unbeaten season until losing to U-Conn and Auriemma in the championship game Tuesday night.

Both McGraw and Auriemma were interviewed at a reception prior to the awards ceremony Monday night.

In addition to mingling with many of the top women’s coaches in the nation at the reception, Stambersky was able to reunite with her coach at Ferris State University, Tracy Dorrow, now head coach at Valparaiso, and a former player, Brittany Graham, current assistant coach at Berry College.

Stambersky was accompanied by her husband, KCKCC assistant baseball coach Damian Stambersky, and their two children, Taylor and Tyler.

Looking back, Stambersky said it was the highlight of her coaching career – and motivation for next season. “You get a taste of what it’s like and you want to be in that situation of winning next year,” she said.