Metro Sports Report

Bevans helps Eagles upend NE Oklahoma

JOPLIN, Mo. - Monika Bevans hit for the cycle and drove in three runs Friday as the Kirkwood Eagles knocked off Northeast Oklahoma A&M  College, 5-2, at the Crowder Bash in Joplin, Mo.

Northeast Oklahoma was ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA Division I poll this week, while Kirkwood was ranked No. 5 in Division II.

The Eagles also topped Carl Albert, 7-1, on Friday, running their record to 11-1 for the campaign.

Kenady Waugh delivered a sacrifice fly for Kirkwood in the 5-2 verdict over Northeast Oklahoma. DoniRae Mayhew collected the win and Natalie  Halvorson got the save in relief.

Halvorson returned to the circle for the game against Carl Albert and tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk.

No. 5 Eagles stunned by Iowa Central

The Kirkwood Eagles never imagined their season would end in bitter disappointment in the regional semifinals against a team they defeated twice during the regular season, but that's exactly what happened at Johnson Hall Thursday night.

Iowa Central stunned the fifth-ranked Eagles, 75-74, on a shot by Tray Croft with five seconds left to end Kirkwood's season a lot earlier than anyone expected.

Kirkwood won the conference title this season and finished six games ahead of Iowa Central in the league standings, but the Tritons will be playing for the regional title Saturday while the Eagles rue their misfortune. Iowa Central finished 5-7 in the league this year compared to an 11-1 mark by Kirkwood, but that does not matter now.

"It's just disappointing," said Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen, who led the Eagles to the 2016 national title and was hoping for another shot this season. "I feel bad for our group, because we had a really good year and obviously that's not the way we want to go out."

Kirkwood finished with a 24-6 record. There are no at-large bids to the national tournament, so the Eagles are done.

Croft, a sensational 6-foot-1 guard from Alabama, torched the Eagles for 31 points, including the game-winner from just inside the foul line over Kirkwood soph Ethan Meeker.

Croft played all 40 minutes and shot 13 for 26 from the field, with four 3-pointers. He also snared a game-best nine rebounds and had three assists.

KCC women stroll to 19th win in row

The Kirkwood women's basketball team waltzed to its 19th straight  victory Wednesday night with a 95-31 victory over Southwestern in the opening round of the regional tournament at Johnson Hall.

The second-ranked Eagles (29-3) host Southeastern (22-9) in the semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m., with 12th-ranked NIACC (25-6) facing Iowa Central (17-14) in the other semifinal at 3 p.m. at Johnson Hall.

The regional championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at  Johnson Hall, regardless of who's playing.

Mackenzie Jenkins led Kirkwood with 14 points and five rebounds. Tayana Wilson collected 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and  three steals. Olivia Usher and Arika Wooldridge scored 10 points apiece.

Keaundra Washington scored 11 points for Southwestern (8-22).

Kirkwood enjoyed a 50-16 bulge in rebounding and a 56-4 advantage in  bench points. Kirkwood used 13 players in the ballgame and all of them scored at least three points.

King shines as No. 5 Eagles roll

The Kirkwood Eagles played a game of "King Me" Tuesday night at Johnson Hall.

And if Chris King keeps shooting like this, the Eagles might be crowned the kings of junior college basketball for the second time in three years.

King tossed in seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points as the fifth-ranked Eagles topped Little Priest Tribal College, 98-78, in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division II regional tournament.

Kirkwood (24-5) hosts Iowa Central (20-11) in the semifinals Thursday at 7 p.m.

King, a 6-foot sophomore from Des Moines, was on fire all night. He scorched the nets from 3-point distance, nailing 7 of 10, and finished 10 of 13 overall from the field.

"I was kind of in the groove today," he acknowledged. "I was just taking the shots the defense was giving me. They were playing a zone, so I had pretty open 3's and I think I'm a pretty good shooter.

"My teammates were finding me. It just kind of happened."