OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – No. 2-ranked Johnson County Community College improved to 17-0 and 2-0 in the Kansas Jayhawk Division II Conference with a dominate 85-41 victory at Kansas City Kansas Community College on Wednesday.
Despite finding themselves down for the first time after a quarter of play and the Blue Devils limiting JCCC's ability to shoot from 3-point range, the Cavaliers picked up their defensive pressure in the second and third quarters to turn a four-point deficit into a 39-point advantage.
Trailing 16-12, Johnson County outscored KCKCC 51-8 in the middle quarters to put the game out of reach.
"I am always telling our teams we play a 40-minute game," said JCCC head coach Ben Conrad. "The first quarter is always tricky at every level."
Jamya McPherson, the reigning KJCCC D-II Player of the Week, led the Cavaliers with a season-high 27 points. She made 10-of-14 shots with one 3-pointer, and was 6-of-7 a the free throw line. She also tied for the team lead with eight rebounds and three steals.
Freshman guard Layla Scott followed with 15 points, all coming in JCCC's second quarter 30-to-5 run. She was 3-of-6 shooting and 8-of-9 at the line.
Sophomore forward Yar Manyiel and freshman guard Heaven Smith each provided 12 points of the bench. Manyiel also grabbed eight boards.
Freshman guard Kara Stricklin and freshman forward Brianna Gist were also solid off the bench finishing with eight and six points respectively.
Amaya Gallegos was the only Kansas City Kansas player to post double digits, finishing with 14 points.
Johnson County shot 56.9 percent and made 24 free throws, while KCKCC shot just 29.4 percent, made only eight charity shots and committed 25 turnovers.
Johnson County returns to conference action on Saturday when they host undefeated and No. 6-ranked Highland Community College (17-0, 2-0) at 2 p.m. This will be the third ranked opponent JCCC has faced in its last four games. The Scotties are coming in off an 81-65 win at Neosho County Community College.
Highland is led by Cameron McNamara who leads the conference in scoring at 20.5 per game, her 8.1 rebounds per game average ranks fourth.