Photo courtesy HCC Sports Information 

CONCORDIA, Kan. — Cloud County went 10-22 last year. The Thunderbirds lost conference games by an average of 15 points.

Much improved, the Thunderbirds (5-1, 1-1) were looking to stay undefeated on the young season.

HCC (6-0, 2-0) also entered undefeated and finished the night that way.

The Blue Dragons raced out to an 18-7 lead, but the Thunderbirds went on a run to keep it close. Cloud garnered a 6-point lead with 6 minutes remaining in the first half.

Despite seven second-chance opportunities, the Thunderbirds only tallied 9 second-chance points by intermission.

Deon Lyle came out hot for Cloud and hit all four of his three point opportunities.

Aamahne Santos did most of his damage from the line. In fact, he was the only Thunderbird to reach the charity stripe.

He sank all eight of his FT attempts in the first half and finished the game with 11 tries.

Santos improved to 20-for-20 on the year before missing a crucial free throw late.

Santos finished with 17 points, 10 from the line for Cloud.

HCC fought back to gain a 41-39 halftime lead.

Despite a slow start, it turned out to be another day at the office for Shakur Juiston.

He added another double-double to his season with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Juiston managed just 2 points throughout most of the first half before breaking away and putting the thunderous finish on two dunks.

Once Juiston came to life, so did the Dragons.

Papi Conley and Samajae Haynes-Jones both slashed to the basket early to produce opening buckets.

Conley finished with 10 points and 6 assists while Haynes-Jones dropped 17 points and pulled down 5 rebounds.

Guard J.J. Rhymes showed his post presence early and often on his way to 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Lyle came out cold in the second half before heating up again. He finished with 21 points on 7-of-10 three-point shooting for Cloud.

His late three gave Cloud life after HCC seemingly had the game at hand.

The Blue Dragons kept building leads of 6 and 8 points late, but the Thunderbirds were able to hang around with three-point shooting and second chances.

Cloud finished with 16 offensive rebounds, but lost the rebounding battle 43-37.

The Blue Dragons trailed in the rebound category at half by two.

Blue Dragon HC Steve Eck said the Blue Dragons weren’t ready for the long rebounds off three-point attempts and that HCC will have to do a better job of boxing out.

FINAL: HCC 80 Cloud County 74

HCC returns to the Sports Arena Saturday to take on the Pratt Beavers (2-3, 0-2).