DRAGONS SURVIVE IN DOUBLE OT, ADVANCE TO REGION VI FINALS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PARK CITY – Twice on Monday night the Coffeyville Red Ravens made the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team sink in their seats with buzzer-beating shots to extend their Region VI Tournament semifinal matchup at Hartman Arena.

The Blue Dragons left nothing to chance in the second overtime.

Sophomore James Rojas scored seven of his career-high 30 points in the second overtime and the unranked Blue Dragons knocked off No. 3 Coffeyville 94-89 to advance to the Region VI Tournament championship game for the seventh straight year. The Dragons snap a three-game losing streak to Coffeyville.

Third-seeded Hutchinson (26-7) will play either No. 1 overall seed Seward County or No. 4 seed Barton at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the championship game. The Blue Dragons make their 28th all-time Region VI title game appearance.

The Blue Dragons had a chance to win in regulation. After Malique Jacobs scored with 17 seconds left to give Hutchinson a 72-69 lead, the Red Ravens ran the clock for the final play. Coffeyville's Marvin Johnson got inside to score and was fouled with 0.2 second to play. After a lengthy video review, the shot counted and Johnson hit the free throw to force overtime.

With 13 seconds left in the first overtime, Tyler Brown hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Dragons an 83-81 lead. Tevin Brewer, who had 15 points in the first win over Hutchinson this season, followed his own missed shot on a drive to the hoop as the buzzer sounded, knotting the score at 83 and forcing a second overtime.

Coffeyville's Miekkel Murray scored the first points of the second overtime. Trailing 85-84, the Rojas hit a jumper to give the Dragons a lead they didn't lose again at 86-85 with 3:09 remaining in the second overtime. Rojas went on to two free throws and a dagger 3-pointer with 1:48 to play to give Hutchinson a 93-87.

The Dragons held Coffeyville to 1 of 6 shooting in the overtime No. 2. While Hutchinson was 3 of 5 shooting, and despite missing five-straight free throws in the final minute, the Blue Dragons outscored Coffeyville 11-6 in the second overtime.

Hutchinson is now 4-0 in overtime this season and 20-4 in overtime in the Steve Eck era. The Dragons are 8-3 in overtime all-time in the Region VI Tournament.

Rojas became the first Blue Dragon to score 30 points in a game since last season when J.J. Rhymes scored 30 against Allen. Rojas was 9 of 19 shooting, including a career-high three 3-pointers. Rojas hit 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. He added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jacobs finished with 13 points, but flirted with a triple-double with career highs of nine rebounds and eight assists.

Rheaquone Taylor scored 10 of his 12 points in the final 10 minutes and the two overtimes. He had seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Brown hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points.

The Blue Dragons shot 42.9 percent for the game (30 of 70), knocking down 8 of 15 from 3-point range and 26 of 43 from the foul line. Rebounding was even at 53 and the Red Ravens had one more turnover than Hutch, 17-16.

Johnson scored 20 points on 8 of 20 shooting to lead Coffeyville. Brewer had 19 points, but on 6 of 18 total shooting and 2 of 10 from 3-point range.

Coffeyville shot 36.9 percent (31 of 84), hitting 6 of 24 from 3-point range and 21 of 32 from the foul line.

GAME NOTES – Hutchinson is now 28-21 all-time against Coffeyville, including 11-6 in the Region VI Tournament. … The Blue Dragons are 137-47 all-time in the Region VI Tournament, including 28-15 in the semifinal round. … This was all-time win No. 1,806. … The Blue Dragons are 5-8 when trailing at halftime. Hutchinson trailed 40-39.