JACKSON HAS DÉJÀ VU MOMENT IN VICTORY OVER BUSTERS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the second time in the last nine months, Hutchinson Community College forward Hailey Jackson knocked down three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point shot attempt with less than 2 seconds remaining in regulation play.

The first time came on April 1 in Casper, Wyoming when Jackson was fouled with 0.7 seconds left against Northwest Florida State. Jackson made all three free throws to tie the game, force overtime and aid the Blue Dragons to an 88-80 win in the national championship game.

Jackson did it again on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena. With the Blue Dragons down two points to Garden City in the final seconds, Jackson was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1.5 seconds left. Jackson made all three free throws to lift No. 1 Hutchinson to a 45-44 KJCCC victory in the 100th all-time meeting between the Blue Dragons and Broncbusters.

The Blue Dragons (12-0, 6-0 KJCCC) extended their program-record winning streak to 49 games, their KJCCC win streak to 34 games, their Sports Arena win streak to 23 games and won their 14th-straight game over Garden City (7-5, 4-3). Hutchinson closes out the first semester with a Saturday road trip to Cloud County at 2 p.m. in Concordia.

Trailing Garden City 44-42 in the final seconds of regulation time, the Blue Dragons got a needed defensive stop as Buster guard Sierra Driessen's pull-up jumper in the paint missed as the shot clock expired and was rebounded by Jackson with 5 seconds remaining. With the Blue Dragons out of timeouts, Jackson made a mad dash up the floor. With time running out, Jackson forced up a 3-point attempt, but was fouled with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Jackson, who was 12 of 12 from the free-throw line on Wednesday, calmly sank all three free throws to give the Blue Dragons a 45-44 lead.

Garden City took a timeout and advanced the ball into the front court. The Busters' inbound pass was deflected by Brynne Katcher and Garden City wasn't able to get a shot off before the buzzer.

The 45 points scored on Wednesday, tied for the ninth-fewest points scored in a Blue Dragon win in program history, matching a 45-43 win over Cowley County on March 5, 1975. The 89 combined points between Hutchinson and Garden City were the third-fewest in series history. The fewest was 78 points in 2007 and second fewest was 87 points in 2006.

Jackson scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Blue Dragons. She was 6 of 13 shooting with a 3-pointer. Her 12 free throws were a career high. Jackson added eight rebounds.

No other Blue Dragon scored in double figures. Katie Duncan and Katcher had five points each.

The Blue Dragons had season-lows for points scored, field-goal percentage (31.6 percent – 12 of 38). The Dragons were 3 of 14 from 3-point range and 18 of 28 from the foul line. The Dragons had a 41-32 rebounding advantage. Madi Denison tied a season high with eight rebounds. Hutchinson turned the ball over 22 times.

Driessen scored 21 points – an opponent single-game high against the Dragons this season – to lead Garden City. The Busters shot 32.8 percent (19 of 56), going 1 of 14 from 3-point range and 5 of 13 from the free-throw line. Garden City had 11 turnovers.

Points were hard to come by throughout the game for both teams.

Hutchinson was 2 of 6 shooting, but went 6 of 6 at the foul line in leading 10-8 after the opening quarter.

Jada Pleasant's transition layup gave the Dragons a 14-11 lead with 5:53 to go in the second quarter. Katcher's layup after an offensive rebound gave the Dragons a 16-12 lead with 4:34 remaining. Garden City went on a 6-0 run to take an 18-16 lead after a Bruna Costa Da Silva 3-pointer with 1:59 to go. Jaden Wilson answered for the Dragons with a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 19-18 lead with 1:43 left in the period. That was also the halftime score.

A Jackson 3-pointer and 2-pointer and a Kahlen Norris free throw in the first 3:39 of the third quarter helped Hutchinson open a 25-18 lead. Driessen scored on a turnaround jumper in the paint with 23 seconds left to cut the Dragon lead to four, but a three-point play by Jackson with 3 seconds remaining gave the Dragons a 32-25 lead after three quarters.

Garden City scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to take a 33-32 lead with 8:01 remaining. Jackson got the lead back with back-to-back buckets for a 36-33 lead with 5:16 left. The lead changed hands six times after that. Tied at 42-42, Garden City took the lead with 52 seconds remaining on a Pricilla Rose Wemba second-chance bucket. The Dragons missed a shot attempt on their next possession, which led up to their key defensive stop and Jackson's heroics with 1.5 seconds remaining.

GAME NOTES – This is the second time this season Hailey Jackson had 10 or more free throws in a game. … The last time a Blue Dragon had 12 or more free throws in a game was Mya Williams on February 8, 2023 against Coffeyville. … Head coach John Ontjes earned his 495th career win on his birthday. … The 45 points scored were the fewest scored in a Blue Dragon victory since last year's Region 6 Tournament semifinal win over Barton on March 15. … This was Jackson's fourth 20-plus point game of the season and eighth of her career.