Freshman Alieyya Jones split between two Graceland defenders for two of her eight points in KCKC’s 93-49 opening win Friday. Jones also led all rebounders with 11. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins) Tiaira Earnest maneuvered between four Graceland defenders for a layup in KCKCC’s 93-49 win Friday. Earnest had 11 points, nine rebounds, four steals and four assists. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Easily over its opening hurdle Friday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young women’s basketball team gets a much tougher test Saturday when the No. 1 ranked Lady Blue Devils play host to St. Louis Community College at 4 p.m.
Roaring to a 29-12 first quarter lead, the Blue Devils overwhelmed Graceland University’s junior varsity 93-49, using speed and quickness to offset less that spectacular shooting.
Shooting just 36.7 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from 3-point, the Blue Devil defense forced the Yellowjackets into 37 turnovers that were converted into 42 points.
“We were awful,” said a disappointed KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “The biggest message I have out of this game is that ‘I told you so.’ We have to do a better job of scoring the basketball; it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve been telling our players they need to work on their games away from practice, shooting, ball-handling, things we’ve done so well the last few years. We got all the shots we wanted tonight, open shots that we didn’t knock down. If we don’t do better tomorrow, we’re in a world of trouble.”
The Blue Devils entered the game with just 10 healthy players and McKinstry gave all extended playing time. All 10 scored and all but one had at least one rebound.
Five KCKCC players scored in double figures, none of whom stood taller than 5-foot-6. A pair of 5-5 guards led the way, sophomore transfer Destiny Zamudio from Malcolm X in Chicago scoring a game high 16 points and freshman Adoreya Williams of Detroit 14.
Truman sophomore Brodi Byrd and freshman Tiaira Earnest of Detroit added 11 points each and Jada Mayberry of Kapaun Mt. Carmel 10. Kamryn Estell, the one 6-footer on the Blue Devil roster, chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.
Alieyya Jones, a 5-9 freshman from Lincoln, Nebraska, led in rebounds with 11 along with eight points while Earnest and 5-11 Mercer Roberts of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each added nine rebounds and 5-7 Aliyah Myers eight rebounds. Myers also led in assists with six with Byrd and Earnest adding four each.
KCKCC had 63 rebounds including 33 off the offensive boards.
“The 33 offensive rebounds are a little misleading being we missed 62 shots and had so many chances at rebouds,” McKinstry said. “I did like the 23 assists on 36 baskets and considering we had 98 shot attempts, theoretically just 15 turnovers is pretty good. Our ability to handle and share the ball are positive points, things we can build on.”
The Blue Devils were 12 of 23 shots from the field for 52.2 percent the first quarter but were under 30 percent in the second and third. They were also just 11 of 48 from 3-point with Zamudio and Byrd the leaders with four and three.
Corrine Hughes attempted a shot from the right side. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) KCKCC freshman forward Corrine Hughes headed a shot over Johnson County’s Tio Krizognoo (3) in the Blue Devils’ 2-0 loss in Region VI playoff action Friday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
The best women’s soccer season in Kansas City Kansas Community College history has come to an end.
Avenging two regular season losses, Johnson County eliminated the Lady Blue Devils from the Region VI playoffs with a 2-0 win Friday. The loss was just the fourth in 17 games for the Blue Devils (13-4), the first winning season in the 8-year history of the sport at KCKCC.
A 2-1 upset winner over No. 1 seeded Cloud County in the opening round of playoffs, the win was the fifth in a row for the No. 8 seeded Cavaliers (13-6-1) and sends them into the Plains District semifinals in Wichita Wednesday.
“It’s disappointing but an unbelievable season,” KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “We knew Johnson had a good team and it’s tough to beat a good team three times. We had a hard time matching their intensity. We had trouble connecting with our forwards and that was unusual because of all the goals we scored this season.”
The Cavaliers jumped in front when Audrey Peterson lofted in a goal from outside the box at the 15:11 mark of the first half and then clinched the win when Morgan Carranza converted a penalty kick with 16:59 remaining in the game.
The shutout was the sixth of the season for Cavaliers, who have given up only 20 goals in 20 games this season. The Blue Devils launched 12 kicks and 10 corner kicks on JCCC goalkeeper Oliva Ways, who had seven saves in recording the shutout.
Jaidyn Takaishi had nine saves in goal for the Blue Devils as the Cavaliers had a 19-12 advantage in shots.
Sophomore defender Alex Schemmel headed the ball back to the JCCC end. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) KCKCC freshman midfielder Jaidyn Yingling (6) tried to get around JCCC midfielder Britt Woolington. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) KCKCC goalkeeper Jaidyn Takaishi was unable to block a high-arcing JCCC goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) Freshman defender Paige Liston (9) headed the ball away from the goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) JCCC sophomore defender Isabella Polanco headed the ball away from KCKCC freshman forward Corrine Hughes. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) Freshman forward Corrine Hughes headed away a JCCC pass. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) Sophomore defender Sydney Guerra took a free kick in the second half. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) Sophomore midfielder Karleigh Enyart played the ball in toward the JCCC goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel) As hard as they could try, a KCKCC quartet of, from left, Corrine Hughes, Karleigh Enyart (5), Alex Schemmel (10) and Jaidyn Yingling could not catch up with a shot in front of the JCCC goal in Friday’s 2-0 loss. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
October sales tax distributions were up for Wyandotte County, according to data on the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website.
Wyandotte County reported a 4.5 percent increase in sales tax distributions from October 2018 to October 2019, according to the figures.
Kansas City, Kansas, reported a 5.2 percent increase in sales tax distributions for the same period, October 2018 to October 2019.
The fiscal year to date figure for sales tax distributions is up 4.8 percent in Kansas City, Kansas, and up 5.3 percent in Wyandotte County, according to the KDOR statistics.
In September 2019, sales tax distributions in Wyandotte County were up 16.1 percent compared to September 2018, according to the KDOR data.
The sales tax distributions for September 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas, were up 15.5 percent compared to September 2018, according to KDOR statistics.
The sales tax distributions now have been up for two months in a row, following a decline of about 3.4 percent in August.
The year has had a lot of ups and downs for sales tax distributions, with January up 12.3 percent and March down 14.4 percent in Wyandotte County.
The reports are at https://www.ksrevenue.org/prsalesreports.html.
