Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Every conference, regardless of the level of play, has its classic rivalry matchups. The Jayhawk Conference has Hutchinson and Butler.

The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team takes on the rival and 23rd-ranked Grizzlies for the 197th time at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena for the Blue Dragons' annual Pink-Out Night game.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Glen Grunwald (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (analyst) calling the action. The Blue Dragon Sports Network will provide the stream for the game starting at 7:15 p.m.

The series started on January 4, 1929 in El Dorado. The Blue Dragons lead the all-time series 128-68, but along the way there have been countless matchups, including 17 Region VI Tournament meetings between Hutchinson and Butler.

The Blue Dragons enter the second meeting of the season with the Grizzlies coming off their best overall game of the season, a 91-65 victory over Cowley on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Aaron Franklin scored 26 points and Aaron Potter had a career-high 22 points to lead the Dragons, who shot 48.5 percent with 13 3-pointers. Defensively, the Dragons held Cowley to an opponent-low 65 points - including 28 points in the first half - and 39.0 percent shooting.

The first time the Blue Dragons played the Grizzlies, a 68-63 loss on December 3 in El Dorado, the Blue Dragons trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half and brought the game back to one possession in the final two minutes. The Blue Dragons committed 28 turnovers, but forced 29 turnovers to get back into the game. Antonio Green had 14 points to lead the Blue Dragons. Treylon Payne had 18 points to lead the Grizzlies.

Since being upset by Northwest Tech on January 25, the Grizzlies have won a pair of tough games over Pratt and Coffeyville, both at home. Butler has won 8 of its last 9 games.

The Grizzlies knocked off No. 13 Coffeyville 93-75 on Wednesday in El Dorado. Butler shot 49.1 percent with five players scoring in double figures. Rob Brown and Isaiah Williams had 16 points each to lead the Grizzlies. Butler trailed Coffeyville 40-33 at halftime, but outscored the Red Ravens 50-35 in the second half.

The Blue Dragons open a key stretch of three-straight ranked opponents with the No. 23 Grizzlies on Saturday. After Butler, the Blue Dragons go to No. 13 Coffeyville on Wednesday and play host to No. 19 Dodge City on February 11. The Blue Dragons are 2-2 against ranked competition this season.