2017 SALT CITY BOWL

Hutchinson (7-4) vs. Eastern Arizona (7-4)

When: Saturday, December 2, 2017

Where: Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Admission: $8 (General Admission only)

Live radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 12:30 p.m.

Live video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 12:50 p.m.

Twitter: @bluedragonsport

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2017 season comes to a close on Saturday when the Hutchinson Community College football team battles the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters in the ninth annual Salt City Bowl at Gowans Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5). The veteran broadcast team of Rusty Hilst (play-by-play), Rob Dreher (analysis) and Randy McKay (sidelines) will call the action. The broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff.

The game will be videostreamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network (www.bluedragonsports.com) about 12:50 p.m.

The Blue Dragons make their 20th overall bowl appearance in program history and are riding a seven-game bowl winning streak that dates back to the 2004 Heart of Texas Bowl. Saturday will be Hutchinson’s seventh Salt City Bowl appearance. The Blue Dragons are 6-0 in the Salt City Bowl and 11-6-2 all-time in bowl games.

Eastern Arizona will play in its fifth all-time bowl. EAC will make its third Salt City Bowl appearance and second in a row. Last year, Eastern Arizona made a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Butler 39-38 and improve its postseason record to 2-2.

Saturday’s meeting will be the second Salt City Bowl matchup between the Blue Dragons and Gila Monsters. Hutch and Eastern Arizona met in the second Salt City Bowl in 2010. The Dragons won the game 42-21. Current Oakland Raider Cordarrelle Patterson was that game’s offensive Most Valuable Player recording 165 all-purpose yards.

Both Hutchinson and Eastern Arizona are 7-4 entering Saturday’s game and both teams are coming off tough road wins in the final week of the 2017 regular season.

The Blue Dragons defeated Dodge City 27-6 on November 11 to snap a three-game losing streak. Receiver/return specialist Marcus Edwards had 186 return yards and a 44-yard punt return for a touchdown, the second of two special teams touchdowns against the Conquistadors.

Eastern Arizona’s 22-13 win at Glendale on Nov. 11 was the Gila Monsters’ second straight win and 5th in the last 6 games. EAC ran for 382 yards led by Wilber Cooper’s 178 rushing yards. Quaderius Clemmon added 144 rush yards.

Running the football is a huge component for both Salt City Bowl teams.

Eastern is the No. 2 rushing team in the nation at 299.4 yards per game. The Blue Dragons led the Jayhawk Conference in rushing defense and ranks 12th in the nation at 89.9 rush yards allowed.

Hutch is averaging 176.9 rush yards per game.

AUDIO GUIDE

Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports caught up with Eastern Arizona’s John O’Meara.

:28 – It’s your third Salt City Bowl, does your preparation change any?

1:04 – Does your decision making change in the final game of the season?

1:23 – Who gets the credit for your strong run game?

1:42 – Do you have confidence in your air game?

2:24 – How do you gain an edge when both teams are so similar?

3:10 – How has your team dealt with the penalty department lately?

3:34 – What’s your confidence level like?

 

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

Six players scored in double figures and the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team shot better than 50 percent for the fifth time this season as the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons overpowered Colby 89-65 on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons captured their fourth victory in a row and moved to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. Hutch’s win combined with Allen’s victory over Barton on Wednesday means the Blue Dragons move into a three-way tie for first plays in the league with the Cougars and Coffeyville. Colby falls to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Wednesday’s victory over the Trojans improved Hutchinson’s record over Colby in games played in the Sports Arena to 25-1.

Hutchinson used a 14-0 run early in the game to take charge. When Devonte Bandoo hit a 3-pointer with 14:35 to play in the opening half, the Dragons led 16-4. Colby went scoreless for 4 minutes, 56 seconds during that juncture. The Blue Dragons wound up hitting 19 of 34 shots in the opening half (55.9 percent), including three 3-pointers to build a 49-25 halftime lead. The Trojans were limited to 8 of 31 shooting (25.8 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.

The Blue Dragons were balanced offensively with six players scored in double figures.

Freshman James Rojas came off the bench to lead the Blue Dragons in scoring with 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting with five rebounds and two steals. Rojas scored eight points in the first half.

Sophomores J.J. Rhymes and Bandoo scored 13 points each. Freshman Curtis Hollis had 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting and 11 boards. Sophomores Tiylar Cotton and Sal Nuhu scored 10 points each. Rheaquone Taylor and Rob Whitfield had nine points each.

The Blue Dragons finished shooting 51.6 percent overall (32 of 62), going 6 of 14 from 3-point range and 19 of 25 from the free-throw line. The Dragons had a 43-37 rebounding advantage. Taylor had a team-high eight rebounds.

Colby improved to 35.8 percent shooting for the game (24 of 67), going 4 of 16 from 3-point range and 13 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Trojans committed 20 turnovers.

Quintavius Eagle scored 14 points to lead the Trojans.

The Blue Dragons were down 4-2 when Whitfield’s layup tied the game and sparked Hutch’s 14-0 run. When Bandoo nailed his only 3-pointer of the game, the Dragons led 16-4 with 14:35 remaining in the half. The Trojans cut their deficit to nine on two occasions, but the Dragons answered each challenge.

Leading 24-13, the Dragons surged again with eight unanswered points. Hollis’ 3-pointer with 8:24 left in the half capped the run and gave Hutchinson a 32-13 lead.

Hutch’s lead reached 20 points for the first time at 45-24 on a Rojas transition dunk with 1:48 to go. It went to 23 at 47-24 on a Hollis tip-in with 1:12 remaining. The Dragons to a 49-25 lead at halftime as Taylor scored at the buzzer.

Colby scored the first six points of the second half to cut the Dragon lead to 18. Rhymes hit on a slashing move to the hoop to stop that run and a few minutes later went on a 13-2 run to take a 69-39 lead after a Whitfield 3-pointer with 13:06 to play.

The Dragons built 29-point leads four different times in the second half.

Hutchinson and Colby battled to a 40-40 draw in the second half. Hutch shot 46.4 percent (13 of 28) and Colby was 16 of 36 (44.4 percent).

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 47-4 all-time against Colby, defeating the Trojans for the 12th consecutive time. … The Dragons had a season-high 10 blocked shots. … The Dragons had 10 steals, which marks the seventh time this season they have reached double figures in steals. … The Dragons have had five or more 3-pointers in three-straight games. … The Dragons have out-rebounded 8 of 9 opponents this season.

 

Brown has career night against Trojans

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

Sophomore Alicia Brown set a new career scoring high for the second-straight game and the No. 12 Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team produced a season-high point total in a Jayhawk Conference victory on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons used a 30-point first quarter to jump-start the offense and roll past the Colby Trojans 90-46.

Hutchinson won its fourth-consecutive game and improved to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the Jayhawk. Colby falls to 3-7 and 1-5. The Blue Dragons travel to Garden City on Saturday.

Brown topped her 19-point performance on Saturday at Neosho County with a career-high 21-point effort on Wednesday against the Trojans. Brown scored 12 points in Hutch’s first-quarter surge. Brown was 8 of 16 shooting, tying another career high with two 3-pointers. She added four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots in pacing the Blue Dragons.

Freshman Dejanae Roebuck posted her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Roebuck hit 6 of 10 shots from the floor. Freshman Jada Mickens had 14 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Sara Cramer also scored in double figures with 10 points, including two 3-pointers.

The Dragons finished shooting 42.5 percent (34 of 80) for the game, hitting 7 of 23 3-pointers and 15 of 18 from the free-throw line. Hutch had a season-high 25 assists on 34 total makes. Tia Bradshaw had a game-high six assists.

Hutchinson also produced season highs for rebounds and offensive rebounds. The Dragons corralled 62 total boards, which ties for the sixth most in a single game in team history. The Dragons also had 23 offensive rebounds where the Dragons produced a 24-5 advantage in second-chance points.

The Blue Dragons limited their fourth opponent of the season to less than 30 percent shooting as Colby finished shooting 25.4 percent (15 of 59). The Trojans were 3 of 25 from 3-point range and 13 of 18 from the free-throw line. Colby also committed 21 turnovers.

Meona Leonard led Colby with eight points.

The Blue Dragons had their best single quarter of the season in the opening quarter on Wednesday. The Dragons scored the first 12 points of the game, holding Colby scoreless for the first 3 minutes, 37 seconds. Brown’s 12 first-quarter points paced the Dragons to 61.1 percent shooting (11 of 18), including three 3-point goals.

A Brown 3-pointer at the 2:54 mark of the first quarter pushed the Blue Dragon lead to 20 points at 27-7. The Dragons led 30-9 after the first quarter.

A steal and layup by Cramer gave the Blue Dragons their first 25-point lead at 42-17 with 5:39 remaining in the second period. It reached 30 at 47-17 on an Allissa Green 3-pointer with 4:21 to play in the second quarter. Outscoring the Trojans 22-16 in the second, Hutchinson led 52-25 at halftime.

Hutchinson’s largest lead was 47 when Kelsey Brett’s layup gave the Dragons an 87-40 lead with 3:07 remaining in the game.

Hutchinson held Colby to 21 points in the second half on 6 of 31 shooting, 0 of 13 from 3-point range.

The Blue Dragons start a two-game road trip on Saturday with a 6 p.m. Jayhawk Conference matchup at Garden City

GAME NOTES – The Dragons are now 45-14 all-time vs. Colby, 24-7 all-time at the Sports Arena. … Five different Blue Dragons had three or more assists. … The Dragons have scored 80 or more points against Colby in 15-straight games. … Vivian Chigbu had a season-high seven rebounds. … The Dragons outscored Colby 52-22 in points in the paint and 23-10 in points off turnovers.