KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Of the many good things to come out of the 2014 annual Keith Lindsey Classic, the fact both Kansas City Kansas Community College teams can go deep into their benches was one of the best.
Both teams return to action Tuesday, the KCKCC women (4-0) at Saint Mary JV and the Blue Devil men (5-0) at Iowa Western. Both games are at 7 p.m.
The Lady Blue Devils then return home this weekend, hosting Jefferson Friday at 7 p.m. and Wentworth Saturday at 4 p.m., while the KCKCC men play Dodge City Friday and Neosho County Saturday in the Dodge City Classic.
Ahead 44-22 at halftime, the Blue Devils led St. Louis by as many as 24 points early in the second half and still had a 19-point lead with 6½ minutes left when a rash of turnovers opened the door for a big St. Louis comeback.
Limited to one of four free throws and guilty of seven turnovers in a five minute span, a 69-50 KCKCC lead was trimmed to 70-66 and it took a desperation 3-pointer by backup guard Roberto Hernandez as the clock was about to expire with 1:32 left to stem the Archers’ comeback. Still, St. Louis got to within four at 74-70 before two Hernandez free throws sealed the win with 32 seconds left.
Lansing freshman Joe Lendway led KCKCC with 16 points on seven of nine shots along with five rebounds while frosh Braseson Sester and Austin Hall each scored 13 points and had five rebounds off the bench, which provided 37 points. Ray Ridley had four assists to go along with his 10 points for KCKCC, which shot a torrid 62.5 percent the first half. However, the Blue Devils were guilty of 21 turnovers, 14 in the second half.
Six Blue Devils scored eight or more points in the 76-73 overtime win over On Point highlighted by an 11 point, 10 rebound double double by freshman Tevin Downing. Lendway again led with a career high 19 points while Ridley added 11, C.J. Vallejo 10, Clay Young 9 and Hall 8. Vallejo also had eight rebounds and five assists, four in overtime as Downing had a 3-pointer, Lendway a layup and Young two key field goals including a 3-pointer.
A triple double by sophomore guard Cassidy Harbert, the second of her career, highlighted KCKCC’s 96-57 win over Penn Valley. Harbert had 14 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists while freshman Cheyenne North had a big double double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Cierra Gaines led the scoring with 23 while Janai Mitchell added 12 points and Sierra Roberts 11 and seven rebounds.
Gaines also had six steals and Erin Anderson five as KCKCC forced 26 turnovers. Eleven Blue Devils scored and collected rebounds as KCKCC had a 66-30 rebound superiority.
The Blue Devils had 13 score and grab rebounds in the 93-41 win over Ellsworth. North had 14 points and Mitchell, Harbert and Gaines 13 each in the win. Leading 40-28 at the half, KCKCC outscored the Panthers 53-13 in the second half.
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PHOTO: KCKCC sophomore guard Cassidy Harbert (left) bounces a pass to teammate Cierra Gaines (13) for one of her 12 assists en route to the second triple double of her career in a 96-57 win over Penn Valley Saturday. Harbert also had 14 points and 14 rebounds. (KCKCC Photo by Rodney Christensen)
