By ALAN HOSKINS
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women had to go right down to the final shot for their fourth win Tuesday but the Blue Devil men had no such problem.
The Lady Blue Devils (4-2) hung on for a 50-48 win over Missouri Valley JV when the Vikings’ 3-point attempt for the win at the horn bounced off the rim while the Blue Devil men (2-4) gained control early and rolled to an 83-67 win over Mid-America Nazarene JV behind a big performance by Dominique Washington.
The Blue Devils now go on the road for the first time this season, playing in the Southeast Classic in Beatrice, Neb., this weekend.
The Lady Blue Devils play Southeast Friday at 6 p.m. and Central Nebraska Saturday at 2 p.m.; the KCKCC men take on Southeast Friday at 8 p.m. and Central Nebraska Saturday at 4 p.m.
Leading 47-42 with six minutes remaining, the Lady Blue Devils managed only one field goal and one of three free throws the rest of the way in the opener.
Bailey West’s basket with 4:52 left gave KCKCC its biggest lead of the game at 49-42 but the Blue Devils missed their final five shots and turned the ball over twice as Missouri Valley closed to 49-48 with 1:49 remaining.
West led KCKCC, posting a double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Samantha Hurst added 11 points and seven rebounds and Alexandria Blaurock nine points and six rebounds. The Blue Devils won the rebound battle 48-40 but were only 21-of-72 from the field for 29.2 percent and just 3-of-18 from 3-point for 16.7 percent.
A 6-7 freshman from O’Hara Prep, Washington scored a career high 34 points on 14-of-19 shooting from the field while sophomore Josh Rupprecht had a career high 13 rebounds and eight points in leading the Blue Devil men.
D.J. Booker added 11 points and Anthony Lane 9 and Booker and Antonio Winn each had a half-dozen assists.
KCKCC, which led 41-32 at halftime, had a 43-36 rebound advantage and shot 46.5 percent while limiting Mid-America Nazarene to 41.5 percent.
