[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]
[ HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION ]
Photo courtesy of Allie Schweizer, Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team shot better than 53 percent and four players scored in double figures as the Blue Dragons opened the 2017-18 season with a 102-56 victory over the Friends University Junior Varsity on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.
Friends hit the first shot of the game, a 3-pointers 27 seconds into the game. The Blue Dragons then held them scoreless for the next 4 minutes 59 seconds and scored 14 unanswered to break the game open.
Hutchinson had to overcome the 11 Falcon 3-pointers, but led 55-31 at halftime and outscored Friends 47-25 in the final 20 minutes.
The Blue Dragons hit 42 of 79 field goals (53.2 percent), hitting 4 of 15 from 3-point range and 14 of 21 from the free-throw line.
Hutch held the Falcons to 39.6 percent (21 of 53). Friends hit 11 of 27 from 3-point range. The Dragons out-rebounded Friends 48-22 with 22 offensive rebounds. The Blue Dragons forced 22 Friends turnovers.
Sophomores J.J. Rhymes and Devonte Bandoo led four Blue Dragons in double figures with 15 points each. Rhymes added a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Kai Mitchell had 12 points and freshman Curtis Hollis had 10 points.
The Blue Dragons were very balanced. Robert Whitfield and Rheaquone Taylor had nine points each. James Rojas and Josh Creachadded eight points each.
Bryant Rogers had 15 points, hitting 3 of 6 3-pointers. Jackson Oldham hit four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.
The Blue Dragons face two good weekend tests this weekend at the Sports Arena. Hutchinson will play NJCAA Division II No. 1 North Lake at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and NEO at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons captured their 11th-consecutive season opening victory and improved to 69-19 in season openers. The Dragons are 74-14 in home openers. … The Dragons out-scored Friends 72-12 in points in the paint, 29-6 off turnovers, 29-0 in second-chance points and 29-5 in fastbreak points.
Mickens sets record for points in debut
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball freshman Jada Mickens definitely made an eye-popping first impression on Wednesday in the Blue Dragons 2017-18 season opener at the Sports Arena.
Mickens produced the best single-game debut of any Blue Dragon women’s player in history as No. 12 Hutchinson overcame a slow start the roll past the Bethany College Junior Varsity 81-35.
Mickens posted a double-double in her Blue Dragon debut with 34 points and 10 rebounds. The 34 points scored was the most by any Blue Dragon in their first Hutchinson game. Mickens tied Cian Carvalho (1998 vs. Allen County) and Missy Schomaker (2000 vs. Colby) for the 10th-best individual scoring performance in program history.
Mickens hit on 13 of 19 field-goal attempts, going 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Mickens added four steals.
Mickens and sophomore Alicia Brown carried the Blue Dragons early, combining to score 13 of Hutch’s first 17 points and 28 of the first 38 Dragon points.
Brown finished with 12 points and five rebounds. She had one 3-pointer. Freshman Dejanae Roebuck came off the bench to score 10 points. Brianna Bradshaw finished with nine points.
The Blue Dragons shot 40.9 percent from the field (27 of 66), shooting 59.6 percent in the middle two quarters. Hutch was 1 of 10 from 3-point range and 26 of 36 from the free-throw line.
Hutchinson outrebounded Bethany 46-34. The Dragons forced 36 Swede turnovers, 13 coming by steals. The Dragons limited Bethany to 23.4 percent (11 of 47), hitting 4 of 13 from 3-point range and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Chandler Peoples had 11 points and Halei Wortham had 10 for the Swedes.
The Blue Dragons led just 17-12 after one quarter after shooting only 4 of 20 percent. Hutch led 18-16 with 8:58 to play in the second quarter. Hutch broke the game open with a 15-0 run and led 33-16 after a Mickens’ layup with 1:51 to play in the second quarter.
After outscoring Bethany 24-11 in the third quarter, the Blue Dragons held the Swedes scoreless for the first 8 minutes, 47 seconds. Hutchinson’s largest lead was the final 46-point margin.
The Blue Dragons are off until Tuesday when the Lamar Runnin’ Lopes come to the Sports Arena at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES – Jada Mickens‘ 34-point game was the first time that a Blue Dragon women’s player scored at least 30 points since Jaime Patrick scored 38 against Northwest Tech on Nov. 30, 2014. … The Blue Dragons are 31-0 all-time against the Bethany College JV. … The Blue Dragons are now 36-8 in season openers and 39-5 in home openers. … The Dragons outscored Bethany 50-14 in the paint and 36-9 in points off turnovers.