HUTCH MEN PREPARE FOR ROAD BATTLE AT NEOSHO

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team opens a key stretch of games on Saturday to close out the first semester of play.

The No. 1 Blue Dragons travel to Neosho County for a 4 p.m. contest in Chanute. The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and in sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Glen Grunwald calling the action. The game will also be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network. Airtime for both radio and video is approximately 3:50 p.m.

The Blue Dragons will take on Neosho County, Colby, Garden City, Butler and Barton to close out the first semester of games. Barton and Cowley are the only remaining unbeaten teams in league play. The Blue Dragons, Coffeyville and Dodge City are all at 3-1, with Garden City, Colby and Independence are 2-2.

Since dropping a road contest in overtime at Cloud County on November 15, the Blue Dragons out-gunned Pratt (109-100) and rolled by No. 14 Coffeyville (99-62). The Dragons have shot 57.3 percent in the last two games. Then Hutch's defense kicked in against the Red Ravens as Coffeyville shot only 27.3 percent for the game.

The Blue Dragons rank second in the Jayhawk Conference in scoring offense at 95.5 points per game and are fourth in field-goal percentage at 50.1 percent. After a slow start shooting from long range, the Dragons have improved to 34.1 percent from 3-point range, which is sixth in the league.

Hutchinson ranks fifth in the Jayhawk in scoring defense at 66.8 points per contest. Opposing teams are shooting 34.9 percent overall and 28.4 percent from 3-point range.

Over his last five games, sophomore J.J. Rhymes is averaging 23.8 points per game with five-straight 20-plus point performances. For the season, Rhymes is Hutch's leading scorer at 20.0 points per game, shooting 58.3 percent from the field. Rhymes is second in the league in scoring.

Devonte Bandoo is averaging 14.1 points per game.

Neosho County has lost its last two games by a combined nine points. The Panthers lost to Independence (78-72) and Dodge City on Wednesday (75-72).

The Panthers offensively are averaging 82.7 points per game, shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, Neosho is allowing 73.9 points, 40.5 percent shooting from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.

Five Neosho County Panthers are averaging in double figures led by Brian Tolefree at 16.0 points per game. Lual Dung averages 13.9 points per game, Branden Fenner at 12.7 points, Montrell Dixson at 11.9 points and Austin Downing at 10.4 points per contest.

The Blue Dragons return home on Wednesday to take on Colby at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena.