AFTER TITLE EUPHORIA, TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK FOR BLUE DRAGONS

By Steve Carpenter
Hutchinson CC Sports Information Director

After seven months of celebrating the program's first national championship in women's basketball, veteran head coach John Ontjes has some simple advice for his 2024-25 Hutchinson Community College team …

"It's time to get back to work for this season."

"Our perspective is the same going into it and we are geared up for the new season," said Ontjes, whose Blue Dragons opens the new season on the road on Friday at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa. "We are just trying to make sure we try and get them ready for tomorrow night."

BLUE DRAGON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 1 Hutchinson (0-0) at NOC-Tonkawa (0-0)
2024-25 Season Opener
When: Friday, November 1, 2024
At: NOC Gym, Tonkawa, OK
Tipoff: 5:30 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), 5:15 p.m. – Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Color)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 5:15 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)

The Blue Dragons carry a 37-game winning streak into the new season as they open their 51st season of basketball. They start the new campaign as the preseason No. 1 picks in both the KJCCC Coaches' Poll and NJCAA Preseason National Rankings.

But unlike a four-year program, the odds of carrying a large nucleus over from a championship-winning team are slim at the two-year program level.

That is the case with the 2024-25 Blue Dragons.

Only four players return from the team that cut the nets at the Ford Casper Center on April 1 after Hutchinson defeated Northwest Florida State 88-80 in overtime to claim the program's first national title.

"We are concerned only with what this team does," said Ontjes, who begins his 18th season guiding the program after producing a 483-93 record in his first 17 seasons. "You can look at us and ask 'how are you going to replace Kiki (Smith) and Journey (Armstead)?'

"We've had to replace great players before. Instead of having one player average 17, maybe you have two players average 10 point or so a game. That's how we are approaching this season."

Sophomore forward Hailey Jackson (Tulsa, Oklahoma) is the top returning scorer and rebounder from last season. Jackson, who will forever be linked to Blue Dragon lore as the player who sank the three clutch free throws with 0.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in the national title game in April, averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds last season.

Also returning are guards Kahlen Norris (The Colony, Texas), whose confidence grew exponentially with a tremendous national tournament performance, and Jada Pleasant (Beaumont, Texas) and forward Madi Denison (Minneola, Kansas).

"I'm really pleased with all four of our returning sophomores," Ontjes said. "You can see what playing in the national tournament did for Hailey, who has really blossomed into a confident player. Kahlen had a great national tournament and I feel she is playing with a lot more confidence. Madi and Jada are being great leaders and are working extremely hard. They have both developed and I see a lot of personal improvement in both of them."

The rest of the 14-player roster is made up of three transfer players and seven true freshmen.

Sophomore guard Landon Forbes (Wichita Bishop Carroll) is a key addition for the 2024-25 Blue Dragons as she will likely take over at the point for Hutchinson this season. Forbes played 10 games at Fort Hays State last season.

Guard Brynne Katcher (West Des Moines, Iowa) was a redshirt player at Morton College. Forward Zhane Singer (St. Paul, Minnesota) played 30 games at North Iowa Area Community College.

"I really like our transfers," Ontjes said. "Landon is going to be our starting point guard. I feel really confident with her. She's a kid who plays hard and is just a winner. Brynne Katcher has a great basketball IQ and does a great job of picking things up. She will be a lot more productive as the season goes on. Zhane is working hard to help us in the post."

Ontjes is looking at three freshmen to be immediate contributors as the new season begins.

International players Katie Duncan (Perth, Australia), Dylan Alexander (Prestons, Australia) and Honey Cooney (Tauranga, New Zealand) can be difference makers, according to Ontjes.

"Those three kids have to be difference makers for us," he said. "Maybe not early, but as we get into January, February and March, they are going to have to be very productive for us."

The other incoming freshmen are forward Noelle Anthon (Oconowomac, Wisconsin), guard Nya Williams (Paris, Texas), Forward Jaden Wilson (Derby) and forward Carly Dameron (Goddard Eisenhower).

After six non-conference games, the Blue Dragons will open their 24-game KJCCC marathon on November 20 at Barton. Ontjes expects the league season to be even more challenging that in 2023-24.

The top 5 of the KJCCC preseason coaches' poll has Hutchinson, Dodge City, Barton, Garden City and Butler.

"I think Garden City is going to be really good," Ontjes said. "Dodge City will be really good. Barton has a lot of unknowns, but they have some really good post players. Coffeyville will always be really prepared. It's going to be an interesting league race. The keys to winning it are being consistent, who can take care of winning at home and not having a bad loss on the road."

The Blue Dragons open a season on the road on Friday for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Hutchinson will open the home portion of the season next Tuesday when Neosho County comes to the Sports Arena for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.