HUTCH CAN’T RECOVER FROM SLOW START AT SEWARD

Saquan Singleton scores 12 points, but the Blue Dragons fall to No. 13 Seward County 94-75 on Sunday in Liberal.

February 24, 2019

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

LIBERAL – For the second time this season, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team had an extremely slow start against Seward County.

For this second time this season, the No. 13-ranked Saints prevailed and earned its first season sweep of Hutchinson since 2014.

Jayhawk West champion Seward County closed the regular season with a 94-75 victory over the Blue Dragons on Sunday at the Green House. The game was moved back a day because of Saturday's winter storm.

Hutchinson falls to 23-7 overall and finished tied with Barton in the Jayhawk West at 14-7. The Blue Dragons will be the second seed from the Jayhawk West for the Region VI Tournament, which begins Wednesday. Hutchinson will meet the Allen Red Devils at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the opening round.

Just 6 minutes into Sunday's game, Seward County led 18-2. The largest deficit the Dragons had in the first half was 18 points after a Marco Morency layup with 10:59 to play. A 12-4 Hutchinson run pulled the Dragons within 33-24 with 3:01 left after a D.J. Mitchell layup. Seward County led 41-30 at halftime.

The Dragons got within seven points twice early in the second half. James Rojas hit a jumper to cut Seward's lead to 45-38 with 16:54 to go. A Mitchell 3-pointer with 15:13 to play sliced the lead to 50-43, but the Saints had an answer every time.

Morency hit a 3-pointer with 9:02 left to give the Saints a 70-52 lead. A 9-0 Dragon run sliced the deficit in half. Josh Perkins' putback with 6:37 left cut the Saint lead to 70-61. Saquan Singleton's dunk with 2:32 left got the Dragons within 80-72, but the Saints finished off the Dragons with a 14-3 run down the stretch.

Singleton and Malique Jacobs had 12 points each to lead the Blue Dragons. James Rojas finished with 10 points. Rheaquone Taylor and Perkins had eight points each.

The Blue Dragons were 29 of 64 from the field (45.3 percent). Seward County's KJCCC-leading defense held the Dragons to a season low one 3-point goal on 11 attempts. Hutch was 16 of 25 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson did hold a 42-38 rebounding advantage, but committed 17 turnovers.

Seward County was 36 of 68 shooting (52.9 percent), going 8-23 from 3-point range and 14 of 28 from the free-throw line.

Reggie Miller led the Saints with 24 points. Morency was right behind with 23 points.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons still lead the all-time series with Seward County 76-30. … This was the fifth time this season Hutch has allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better. … It's the fifth time the Dragons have allowed 90 or more points this season. … The Blue Dragons are 17-2 when out-rebounding an opponent. … Hutch is 7-5 in road games this season.