DeAngelo Bell (KCKCC photo)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Statistics will show Kansas City Kansas Community College scored more points, shot the ball better and had fewer turnovers at Fort Scott Wednesday night.
What the stats don’t show is the Blue Devils’ gutty defensive effort in a 75-64 win in which the Greyhounds were held to 11 points under their season average.
“Hats off to our guys for guarding their tails off,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “We did a phenomenal job, making them make jump shots, making tough plays and playing hard for 40 minutes.”
The win was particularly significant in that Fort Scott (14-8) was coming off a 93-88 double overtime win at No. 5 Johnson County Saturday. The win also kept the Blue Devils (10-12) tied for the Jayhawk Conference lead with JCCC and Highland (all 2-1) heading into KCKCC’s game at Highland Saturday at 3 p.m.
A career night by former Harmon standout DeAngelo Bell led the Blue Devils at Fort Scott, A 5-9 guard, Bell scored a career high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field including 4-of-5 three-pointers. Jermaine Yarbough added 16 points on 7-of-10 chipping while Calvin Slaughter added nine points, Jalen Davis and Ezekiel Lopes eight each and Deron McDaniel six.
Outrebounded 48-30, the Blue Devils had two more field goals on 14 less shots but made 27-of-55 for 49.1 percent while the Greyhounds were limited to 25-of-69 for 36.2 percent. KCKCC’s 14 assists were led by Slaughter’s six and Bell’s three.
“A great job of creating shots for each other,” Burgette said.
Jumping out to an 8-2 lead, the Blue Devils built a 23-12 lead early before Fort Scott closed to 34-30 at the half. The Greyhounds pulled to 37-36 early in the second half when the Blue Devils took command with a game-breaking 18-5 run.
Lopes started it with a trey, Slaughter converted a three-point play and Bell scored on a layup and knocked down a three to make it 48-39. Yarbough added a jumper and Bell another 3-pointer for a 55-41 lead and the Blue Devil defense took it from there, turning back every Greyhound challenge.
“Big players made big plays and I couldn’t be more proud,” Burgette said. “DeAngelo (Bell) was huge for us and Calvin (Slaughter) played great, making big play after big defensively play, plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet but were huge for us.”
Elsewhere in the Jayhawk Wednesday, Highland (15-6) escaped Hesston 61-59 and Johnson County (19-4) held off Labette 79-22.
