Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information
By John Mesh
Hutchinson Community College sophomore Hailey Jackson passed the 1,000-point mark and the No. 11 Blue Dragon women’s basketball team held off the Seward County Saints 58-50 Saturday afternoon at the Green House in Liberal.
Jackson now has scored 1,018 career points and moved into seventh place on the HutchCC career points list.
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon men’s basketball team completed the HutchCC sweep with a 57-54 victory over the Seward County Saints.
The Hutchinson women improved to 26-3 overall (20-3 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference). Seward County dropped to 19-10 overall (14-9 KJCCC).
Jackson led the Blue Dragons with 33 points and 9 rebounds. Landon Forbes scored 13 points with 3 assists and 4 steals. Hutchinson outrebounded Seward 45-33.
Hutchinson jumped out to a 14-1 lead in the opening few minutes but the Saints went on an 8-0 run to cut the Blue Dragons’ lead to 14-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Landon Forbes hit a 3-pointer as time ran out in the first half. Hutchinson led at halftime 26-20. The score was tied 35-35 at the end of the third quarter and 47-47 with 2:47 left in the game.
Jackson went on a personal 7-0 run to give the Blue Dragons a 54-47 lead.
With her 1,018 career points, Jackson passed Dejanae Roebuck (998 points in 2017-2019) and Janay Vulgamore (999 in 1988-1990).
The top six scorers in Blue Dragon women’s history are Kalani Purcell (1176 in 2013-2015), Mya Williams (1163 in 2021-2023), Jamie Patrick (1098 in 2012-2014), Heather Robben (1072 in 2008-2010), Cian Carvahlo (1034 in 1998-2000) and Tor’e Alford (1032 in 2017-2019).
John Ontjes, in his 18th season as Hutchinson women’s basketball coach, has a record of 509 wins, 99 losses (296-59 in KJCCC games).
In other KJCCC women’s games Saturday, Dodge City defeated Coffeyville 74-50, Colby defeated Fort Hays Tech Northwest 70-40, Butler CC defeated Cloud County 76-57, Barton CC defeated Independence 64-59 and Garden City defeated Pratt 79-50.
The Blue Dragon women’s basketball team will host No. 7 Dodge City at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hutchinson Sport Arena in the final regular-season game of the season. It also is Sophomore Night at HutchCC.
In other KJCCC West women’s games Wednesday, Coffeyville hosts Barton, Pratt hosts Cloud County, Butler CC hosts Cowley College, Independence hosts Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Seward County hosts Garden City.
Hutchinson men 57, Seward County 54
Sophomore guard Kobe Smith drained two free throws with 7.1 seconds left in the game to clinch Hutchinson CC’s 57-54 victory over Seward County.
Hutchinson led 48-33 with 7:39 left in the game. Seward went on a 21-7 run to cut the Blue Dragons’ lead to 55-54, but committed a turnover on its next possession with 8 seconds left in the game.
Bo Aldridge led the Blue Dragons with 21 points. DJ Dudley scored 13 and Smith added 6.
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon men’s team have won three straight games and improved to 19-10 overall (15-8 KJCCC).
The Seward County Saints dropped to 3-25 overall (2-21 KJCCC). The Saints have lost 10 straight games and are 1-12 at home this season.
The Blue Dragons defeated Seward County 74-50 on Jan. 15 at the Sports Arena. Hutchinson leads the all-time series with Seward County 88-31.
Seward County already has been eliminated from postseason contention.
Hutchinson leads the all-time series with Seward County 88-31.
In other KJCCC West men’s games Saturday, Dodge City defeated Coffeyville 92-77, Cloud County defeated Butler CC 86-83, Barton CC defeated Independence 110-93, Garden City defeated Pratt 108-80 and Colby defeated Fort Hays Tech Northwest 81-69.
The Blue Dragon men’s basketball team will host Dodge City at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hutchinson Sport Arena in the final regular-season game of the season. It also is Sophomore Night at HutchCC.
In other KJCCC West men’s games Wednesday, Coffeyville hosts Barton, Pratt hosts Cloud County, Butler CC hosts Cowley College, Independence hosts Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Seward County hosts Garden City.
Hutchinson Blue Dragon softball team routs Fort Hays Tech Northwest twice
The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons softball team routed Fort Hays Tech Northwest Tech twice on Saturday at Tiger Softball Complex in Goodland.
HutchCC won the first game 21-0 (5 innings, run rule) and the second game 20-0 (5 innings, run rule).
Hutchinson improved to 8-4 overall (4-0 KJCCC).
Hutchinson has scored 84 runs in its last five games (9, 13, 21, 21, 20) and Blue Dragon pitchers have allowed 11 runs.
In the first game, Blue Dragon pitchers Morgan Tomlinson and Mia Williams combined for a no-hitter. Tomlinson struck out eight batters and improved her record to 3-1.
The Blue Dragons collected 21 hits, including five by Bailey Backhaus, four by Emily Dice and three each by Kaibryn Kruger and Gabby Stauffer. Brooke Backhaus and Lillian Sapp each had two hits.
Bailey Backhaus scored five runs, Dice four and Stauffer three. Bailey Backhaus, Kaibryn Kruger and Stauffer each drive in three runs.
In the second game, Blue Dragon pitchers Aubree Thomas and Jessica Schmidt allowed just one and struck out eight batters. Thomas improved her record to 3-1.
HutchCC batters rapped out 22 hits, including four by Bailey Backhaus, three each by Tailor Golly, Stauffer and Brooke Backhaus. Golly drive in six runs.
The Blue Dragons play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Butler Community College on Wednesday and host a 2 p.m. doubleheader Sunday at Fun Valley against Labette Community College.
No. 21 Blue Dragon baseball team splits Saturday twinbill at Coffeyville
The No. 21 Hutchinson Community College baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader against Coffeyville Community College Saturday at Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville.
Hutchinson won the first game 6-2 Saturday and lost the second game 2-0. The Blue Dragons’ record is 11-2.
The Blue Dragons defeated the Red Ravens 9-6 and 15-5 (7 innings) on Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Blue Dragons play a single game Tuesday at Hesston College and then play a four-game series against Diodge City. The Dragons play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Dodge City Thursday and play a 1 p.m. twinbill Saturday at home against the Conquistadors.