LATE STEAL, FREE THROWS RALLY HIGHLAND PAST KCKCC

            No defeat comes easy but Kansas City Kansas Community College's 58-56 loss to Highland Saturday was as hard to swallow as they come.

            Trailing 56-54, Highland used a steal, layup and two free throws on an ensuing technical foul with 14 seconds left to deprive the Blue Devils their first win in the Jayhawk Division II Conference.

            Ahead by 10 points with five minutes to go, the Blue Devils didn't give up the lead until those final game-turning 14 seconds. Highland had pulled to within onne possession of the lead four times in the final three minutes but each time the Blue Devils had responded on baskets by Anthony Ridley, Clay Young, Lucas Smith and a pair of Ridley free throws that kept the KCKCC lead at 56-52 with 1:14 to go.

            After Highland got back to 56-54 on a Torre Somerville basket with a minute left, KCKCC twice missed close range shots but got a break when Highland's Dominique Davis missed two free throws in the final 20 seconds. Lucas Smith came down with the rebound for KCKCC only to have the ball knocked away. Somerville retrieved the loose ball and scored on a layup and Smith was given a controversial technical foul for protesting. "There was no swearing," emphasized KCKCC Coach Kelley Newton.

            Two Somerville free throws put Highland in front and the Scotties held on when Stephen Leimbach's desperation 3-point attempt sailed long and the Blue Devils couldn't get off a shot with a half-second to go.

            Smith led KCKCC with 20 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out while Clay Young also turned in a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

            The Blue Devils now go back on the road, playing at Brown Mackie Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Hesston Saturday at 8 p.m. before closing out the regular season at home against Fort Scott Wednesday, Feb. 26.