Jordan Banks found his shooting touch just in time as he propelled Kansas City Kansas Community College to a its third straight win, a 61-59 nail-biter over Allen County Wednesday night.
Blanked on his first four attempts from 3-point range, the 6-1 sophomore from Olathe East drained three treys in a row over a five-minute stretch that put KCKCC ahead to stay 58-56 and then added a key offensive rebound with 33 seconds left to preserve the win. The Lady Blue Devils, however, had much less shooting success in a 42-33 loss that ended a two-game winning streak.
Antonio Winn led the Blue Devil men (7-11) with 15 points, all on 3-pointers as the Blue Devils were 11 of 23 from long range for 47.8 percent. Banks added 11 points, D.J. Booker 10 and Dominique Washington 9. Booker also had nine assists while Evrard Atcho grabbed 13 rebounds and Washington nine as KCKCC controlled the boards 41-30.
Neither team led by more than six points in a game that had 13 lead changes and four ties. The Blue Devils nearly sabotaged their effort by making just 4 of 13 free throws and made only one free throw after Washington’s field goal with 2:09 left but held on by holding Allen scoreless the final 1:57.
Two horrific scoring droughts were far too much to overcome for the Lady Blue Devils. Getting only one field goal in the final 12:42 of the first half, KCKCC fell behind 29-15 at the break. The Blue Devils then closed back to 29-24 with 16:09 left in the game only to go scoreless for the next 13 minutes and trailed 37-24.
Allen likewise struggled in the second half, going scoreless for more than nine minutes.
KCKCC (6-12) limited the Lady Red Devils to 24.5 per cent shooting and forced 18 turnovers but managed only 12 field goals in 72 attempts for a frigid 16.7 percent.
Alexandria Blaurock had a big night for KCKCC with nine points and 14 rebounds but no other Blue Devil managed more than two field goals.
