On Friday, Nov. 11 between the KCKCC men's and women's basketball games, the athletic department will honor the 2022 KCKCC softball team, which won the District Plains B Championship last spring with a ring ceremony. The Blue Devils swept their opponents in the District Tournament while claiming a 45-16 record - the second-most wins in program history.
KCKCC then went on to make the National Tournament where they went 2-2.
The Blue Devils won 29 of those games on their home turf, including a seven-game winning streak to begin the season. KCKCC also had two separate streaks of six wins in a row.
KCKCC would also ride the hot hand of Bradi Basler in the circle in all three District playoff games as the Blue Devils defeated JCCC, Highland CC and Hesston College.
"I think it was 19 years was the last time they went back to the National Tournament," head coach Lana Ross said. "In January we were sitting in the gym and I pointed out that banner saying this better be our year. We talked about that all season and it was the starting point. It was a huge year for us, we had our ups and downs. But every single time that happened we bounced back and that District Tournament in Topeka was just the icing on the cake for us. We peaked at the right time, we had great efforts from the entire team and it was a huge accomplishment."
Ross said a key turning point for the team realizing they could actually win the whole thing started after the first contest.
"After we beat Johnson County in the opening round of Districts," Ross said. "This is going to happen, we still had a tough game ahead with Highland winning 1-0 and going extra innings, but winning that first round game was huge. That's when I knew it was possible."
November 11 marks the first day of the KCKCC Basketball Classic with games beginning at 2 p.m. The women's basketball game with North Central Missouri will start at 6 p.m., while the softball ring ceremony occurs immediately after.
The basketball tournament continues on Nov. 12 and concludes after the 6 p.m. men's matchup with North Central Missouri.
For more information on the upcoming Hall of Fame Ceremony, please visit bluedevils.kckcc.edu.
Original source can be found here.
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