By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams swept Cloud County Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The No. 8 Blue Dragon women edged the Thunderbirds 71-66 and improved to 23-2 overall (12-0 at home and 17-2 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference).
The Hutchinson CC men’s team defeated Cloud County 98-73. The Blue Dragons improved to 16-9 overall (12-7 KJCCC)
The Blue Dragon women have won 28 straight games on Sam Butterfield Court at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The Thunderbird women’s team dropped to 15-9 overall (10-9 KJCCC). The Cloud County men’s team fell to 11-14 overall (5-14 KJCCC).
The Hutchinson women led the Thunderbirds 19-18 after one quarter, 36-30 at halftime and 55-48 after three quarters. HutchCC outscored Cloud County 18-16 in the fourth quarter.
Haiey Jackson led the Blue Dragons with 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. She made 7-of-9 free throw attempts. Jackson had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Dragons over Could County Dec. 14 in Concordia.
Landon Forbes scored 15 points, dished off 8 assists, had 3 steals and pulled down 4 rebounds for the Blue Dragons. Jada Pleasant had 11 points, 2 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Kahlen Norris had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 assists.
Madi Denison scored 6 points, had 2 steals and grabbed 6 rebounds. Brynne Katcher had 4 points, 2 steals and 7 rebounds.
Jaden Wilson had 2 points and 3 rebounds. Carley Dameron had 2 points and 2 rebounds. Katie Duncan grabbed 2 rebounds and Honey Cooney had 1 assist.
Four Thunderbirds scored in double figures, led by Shea Wurtz and TiAna Davis with 16 points apiece. Lilliana Peterson scored 11 points and Talasia Thomas also had 11.
Thomas grabbed 7 rebounds, Wurtz 6 and DaNae Crosby 6. Davis had 6 assists and Crosby 4 steals.
Hutchinson women’s coach John Ontjes now has 506 career victories in 604 career games over 18 seasons. He has a 30-6 record all-time against Cloud County.
Hutchinson men 98, Cloud County 73
In the men’s game, Cloud County owned the first 14 1/2 minutes of the opening half and Hutchinson dominated the last 5 1/2 minutes to take a 34-28 lead at intermission.
The Blue Dragons trailed the Thunderbirds 13-4 and 16-6 early in the first half, but went on a 28-12 run.
Hutchinson dominated the entire second half, outscoring the Thunderbirds 64-45 in the second 20 minutes en route to the 98-73 victory.
Bobby Cannon led Hutchinson with 11 points at halftime and DJ Dudley scored 10. Cannon tired a career high with 25 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Dudley finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.
Bo Aldridge scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Mikhail Abdul-Hamid scored 13 points and Khalili Arnold added 9 point.
Javon Gamory scored 3 points, Kobe Smith 3, Amari Davis 2 and Isaiah Jackson 2. Emmanuel Okitondo played but did not score.
Dudley, Arnold and Davis each had 2 steals for the Blue Dragons. Hutchinson made 18-of-19 free throws, led by Cannon who made all seven of his foul shots.
Elidjah Savane led the Thunderbirds with 26 points. He made 10-of-16 free throw attempts. Syncere Burnette scored 20 points.
Fallou Koite and Aamare Johnson each scored 8 points for the Thunderbirds. Keyon Garret-Miller had 6 points and 6 rebounds.
The Blue Dragons won the first meeting with Cloud County on Dec. 14 at Concordia, rallying from 16 points down in the second half to earn a 77-73 victory.
Upcoming HutchCC basketball schedule
The Blue Dragon basketball teams play at Cowley College in Arkansas City Wednesday. Game times are 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The 13th Annual Pinkout Games for Hutchinson Community College women’s and men’s basketball teams will take place next Saturday against Butler Community College at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. Tip-off times are 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Blue Dragon basketball fans can get their Pinkout T-shirts by visiting the Blue Dragon Athletic Office. The suggested donation is $10.
The purpose of the Pinkout games and T-shirts are to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
The Blue Dragon women and men host Pratt Community College at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 26.
The Blue Dragons play at Seward County Community College March 1 and hosts Dodge City on March 5.
Blue Dragon baseball team improves to 5-0
The Hutchinson Community College baseball team improved to 5-0 with a 6-3 victory over Rose State College early Saturday at RSC Field in Midwest City, Okla.
The Blue Dragons defeated Rose State 4-1 and 18-4 Friday.
HutchCC will play its next three doubleheaders (six games) at home at Hobart-Detter Field.
Hutchinson plays Highland Community College next Friday, Des Moines Area Community College on Feb. 23 and Coffeyville Community College on Feb. 27.
All three doubleheaders start at 1 p.m.