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.