NO. 21 BLUE DRAGONS EARN KJCCC ROAD WIN AT INDEPENDENCE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

INDEPENDENCE – Zoe Holman and Kobe Smith posted career highs to spark the No. 21-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team to a season-high offensive total on Wednesday at Independence.

The Blue Dragons shot 52.9 percent from the floor as Hutchinson earned a 108-89 Jayhawk Conference road victory over the Pirates, extending their winning streak over Independence to 18 consecutive games.

Hutchinson improved to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons play host to Pratt at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Independence fell to 1-9 overall and 0-3 in the league.

Holman scored a career-best 23 points to lead the Blue Dragons, scoring 14 points in the second half. Holman was 7 of 9 shooting from the floor and he was 9 of 12 from the foul line. Holman added four rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Smith finished with a career-high 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Smith was 8 of 12 shooting and he had four offensive rebounds with a career-best four steals.

Five Blue Dragons scored in double figures.

Dre Weathers had 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting with five rebounds. J.P. Ricks had 12 points and Kernan Bundy had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Russell Branch had eight points and a season-high five steals. Dallas Whitney and Landon Wagler had seven points each.

The Blue Dragons hit 41 of 78 shots from the floor, going 5 of 21 from 3-point range and 21 of 33 from the foul line. The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Independence 43-33. The Dragons had a season-high 24 steals and dished out 22 turnovers.

Hutchinson shot 62.2 percent in the first half to build a 60-42 lead at halftime.

Independence's Cory Curtis Jr. scored a game-high 40 points, hitting 15 of 23 shots from the field, including five 3-point goals. Tyland Holman had 13 points.

The Pirates shot 54.5 percent from the floor (36 of 66), hitting 11 of 26 from 3-point range and 6 of 14 from the free-throw line. The Pirates committed 30 turnovers.

Tied at 13-all, the Dragons grabbed the lead for good with a 7-0 run. Smith's transition layup gave the Dragons a 20-13 lead with 13:23 to play in the first half.

The Blue Dragons led 37-34 and exploded for a 23-8 run to close the half. The run started with 12 unanswered points. A Branch 3-pointer with 3:45 remaining in the half gave the Dragons a 49-34 lead. The Dragons led 60-42 at halftime.

Leading 89-76 with 7:57 to play in the second half, the Dragons closed the game strong with a 16-5 run over a span of 5 minutes.

GAME NOTES – The 60-point first half was Hutchinson's second 60-point half of the season. … The Dragons earned all-time win No. 1,902. … The Dragons are now 56-23 all-time against Independence. … The Blue Dragons had their sixth game or 20 or more assists. … Independence tied an opponent scoring high of 89 points. … Cory Curtis is the first opponent to score 40 points in a game against Hutchinson since Pratt's Quintin Metcalf scored 49 points last season at Pratt.