By ALAN HOSKINS
The Blue Devils of Kansas City Kansas Community College continued their late season surge Monday, exploding for 48 second half points in a 78-58 win over Neosho County at Chanute.
The win was the sixth in a row and the ninth win in the last 12 games for the streaking Blue Devils (13-14), who will close out their road season at Allen County Wednesday at 6 and 8 pm. The Lady Blue Devils, however, dropped a 68-39 decision.
While the Blue Devil men will be focused on Allen County Wednesday night, their playoff future will be determined at Fort Scott where the Greyhounds will entertain Johnson County (5-4).
A Fort Scott win will give KCKCC (6-4) a first round bye in the Division II playoffs; a JCCC win will mean KCKCC will host a first round game March 2.
The Blue Devils will then close out regular season play at home, hosting Labette in the Athletic Hall of Fame games Saturday at 6 and 8:30 p.m., and Coffeyville a week from Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Assured of no worse than a tie for second in Division II, the 78-58 win at Neosho kept the Blue Devils (8-7) tied for fourth with Independence in their final season of Division I play in the Jayhawk Conference.
One of the best balanced offenses of the season carried the Blue Devils at Neosho as four players scored 14 or more points. Antonio Winn, who was 6-of-8 from the field, led with 17 points while Jordan Banks and Dominique Washington each added 15 and Lamonte Burgette a career high 14 points.
The Blue Devils were particularly effective from distance as Burgette, Winn and Banks each had a trio of 3-pointers.
The Blue Devils also got standout quarterbacking play from D.J. Booker, who had 10 assists and no turnovers along with eight points and four rebounds. Washington led rebounding with nine while Winn added six.
Turnovers were a key factor in the win as KCKCC committed a season low six. Leading 30-26 at the half, the Blue Devils pulled away in the second half with 8-of-16 3-pointers and 50 percent shooting for the game.
Frigid shooting continued to plague the KCKCC women, who were just 5-of-27 for 18.5 percent in falling behind 32-15 at halftime. Sophomores Alexandria Blaurock and Mariah Marusak led the scoring with eight points each with Bailey West adding six. Marusak and Jherica Montgomer led rebounding with seven each.
