HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In a three-game skid and out of the Top 20, Hutchinson (6-4, 3-3) looks for some momentum heading into the Salt City Bowl.

To finish the regular season, HutchCC travels to Dodge City (4-6, 1-5) for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Conquistadors experienced a three-game losing streak earlier this season before beating Fort Scott in mid-October. Dodge City is now on a two-game losing streak and has lost five of its last six contests.

Daren Dunn of Eagle Sports caught up with Gary Thomas of Dodge City ahead of Saturday’s contest.

AUDIO GUIDE

:21 – Do you handle winning streaks and losing streaks differently?

1:24 – Did you simply run out of time in your one-possession losses or fail to finish?

2:21 – What specifically is not working for your defense?

3:36 – Did the bye week help you get healthy?

5:02 – Do you motivate or expect players to be self-motivated?

6:29 – Can you exploit Hutchinson’s secondary like Fort Scott did?

 

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HILLSBORO, Kan. — The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team completed the non-conference portion of its schedule Tuesday night with a massive offensive outburst.

Seven different players scored in double figures as the Blue Dragons set numerous modern-day statistical records in a 125-61 victory over the Tabor College Junior Varsity at the Tabor Gymnasium.

The Blue Dragons improve to 4-0 entering Saturday’s Jayhawk Conference opener at Seward County. Tabor falls to 0-3.

Sophomore Tiylar Cotton led the Blue Dragons’ impressive offensive performance with a career-high 23 points. Cotton was a perfect 7 of 7 shooting and all seven shots were 3-pointers.

Cotton’s performance helped the Blue Dragons achieve the following:

+ The 125 points scored was the ninth most in single-game history.

+ The 64-point margin of victory is the 10th largest in single-game history.

The Blue Dragons broke the following modern day statistical records:

+ Field-goal percentage – 67.6 percent

+ Total field goals – 50

+ 3-point field goals – 13 (tied the record with 13 vs. Central Nebraska in 2012).

+ Assists – 35.

The Blue Dragons hit 50 of 74 shots from the field, going 13 of 23 from 3-point range and 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Tabor 47-30 and limited themselves to just 10 turnovers.

Sophomore J.J. Rhymes was 9 of 12 shooting with three 3-pointers in a season-high 22-point output that included six assists and five rebounds.

Freshman Curtis Hollis had 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Freshman Rheaquon Taylor posted his first career double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Sophomore Devonte Bandoo had 12 points, while sophomore Sal Nuhu and freshman Josh Creach added 10 points each.

Tabor was held to 33.8 percent shooting (23 of 68), but went 8 of 31 from 3-point range and 7 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Bluejays turned the ball over 18 times,

Preston Loewen led Tabor with nine points on three 3-point goals.

Hutchinson hit eight first-half 3-pointers and shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half to build a 65-26 lead at halftime. The Dragons produced scoring runs of 17-3, 16-4 and 14-2 in the opening half.

The Blue Dragons reached the 100-point mark with 7:04 to play in the game when Anthony Munson hit a 15-footer.

Tuesday’s game was the first of four in a row away from the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons open conference play with road games at Seward County, Cloud County and Pratt before turning to the Sports Arena on November 21 to take on Coffeyville.

GAME NOTES – The last time the Blue Dragons reached 125 or more points in a game was Nov. 27, 1997 in a 129-74 victory over Olive-Harvey College. … Hutch’s bench produced 71 points. … Hutch’s largest lead was 66 points (125-59).

HutchCC Women take care of Lamar

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Sophomore Alicia Brown led five players in double figures as the No. 12-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team opened a 25-point lead by halftime on Tuesday and never looked back.

The Blue Dragons scored the game’s first six points and kept and dominated in the first half of an 82-45 victory over the Lamar Runnin’ Lopes on Tuesday at the Sports Arena.

Hutchinson improves to 2-0 heading into Saturday’s Jayhawk Conference opener at No. 6 Seward County. The Lopes fall to 2-2.

Hutch shot 50 percent in the first period; including three 3-point goals to build a 20-7 lead after the first quarter. That lead increased to 37-12 at halftime.

The Dragons held Lamar to 4 of 22 shooting in the first half and forced 15 turnovers. Lamar went scoreless for 5 minutes, 22 seconds of the second quarter. The Blue Dragons expanded a 15-point lead into a 32-9 lead with less than 2 minutes to play in the second quarter.

Brown finished with a game-high 16 points on 5 of 9 shooting, including two 3-point goals. She added seven rebounds and five assists.

Freshman DeJanae Roebuck posted her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best 18 rebounds. Her rebound total tied Kalani Purcell and Ariella McGhee for the fourth-most rebounds in Blue Dragon single-game history.

Freshman Jada Mickens had 12 points and six rebounds. Freshmen Sara Cramer and Tia Bradshaw had 11 points each. Cramer hit 3 of 5 3-point goals and Bradshaw added two more treys.

The Blue Dragons finished shooting 31 of 69 (44.9 percent), going 7 of 21 from 3-point range and 13 of 19 from the free-throw line. Hutch dominated the boards 53-23 and used 17 offensive rebounds to build a 16-0 advantage in second-chance points.

The Dragons had 23 assists, 12 steals and seven blocked shots, but turned the ball over 21 times.

Iva Belosevic had 12 points to lead Lamar. The Lopes finished 17 of 54 overall (31.5 percent), including 6 of 21 from 3-point range and 5 of 14 from the foul line.