KCKCC’s Daiyon Taylor (22) and Arother Ratliff (34) had this rebound covered in the Blue Devils’ 60-55 playoff loss to Fort Scott Wednesday. Taylor had six rebounds. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s men’s basketball season came to an end Wednesday, victim of the longest scoring drought in Blue Devil history.
Scoreless for nearly 12 minutes to start the second half, the Blue Devils could not recover in a 60-55 loss to Fort Scott in opening round play of the Region VI playoffs. The loss ended KCKCC’s season at 14-17 while Fort Scott (16-15) moves into semifinal round play at No. 2 ranked Highland (27-2) Saturday.
Clashing for the third time this season, there were six ties and four lead changes in a see-saw first half.
The Blue Devils had a 15-9 edge in rebounding, converted half their shots (11-of-22) and knocked down six 3-pointers in 14 attempts – certainly no indication of what was to come.
The Blue Devils lead was 34-31 at halftime thanks to the scoring of Taylor Turner and Calvin Slaughter’s 3-pointer to beat the halftime horn.
Unfortunately, by the time Malcolm Tate made a 3-pointer with 8:10 left in the game, Fort Scott had built a 43-34 lead, scoring 12 straight points by taking advantage of nine missed field goal attempts, two errant free throws and six turnovers.
Once the lid came off, the Blue Devils quickly cut the lead to 45-42 only to have Fort Scott’s Tanner Lackey notch his fourth 3-pointer of the night with 6:03 left. Lackey’s fifth trey was even more damaging. The Blue Devils again closed to 51-46 only to have Lackey’s 3-pointer open the lead to 54-46 with 3:16 left and KCKCC could never get closer than six points until the final 10 seconds.
Lackey, who was 5-of-12 from 3-point range, finished with 19 points while 6-5 Craig Jordan led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-13 shots from the field. Jordan and Andre Nelson shared rebound honors with seven each as the Greyhounds won the battle of the boards 30-26. Both teams shot 44 percent from the field but Fort Scott was able to convert 16 KCKCC turnovers into 14 points.
KCKCC trailed 12-5 early and it took a couple of Arother Ratliff 3-pointers and two DuVonte’ Beard short-range jump shots to cut the deficit to 22-18, at which time Taylor Turner took over, scoring 11 straight points for a 31-30 lead. Nine of the points came in a 2½-minute span highlighted by two 3-pointers.
Turner finished with 13 points while Ratliff added nine and Slaughter and Tate eight each. Daiyon Taylor and Slaughter shared the rebound lead with six; Kelyn Bolton and Ratliff led in assists with five each. The game was the final for three Blue Devil sophomores, Ratliff, Tate and Beard.
In the other opening round game, Labette (21-10) defeated Hesston 92-69 and will play at No. 6 ranked Johnson County (26-4) Saturday.
