JACKSON GOES FOR 32 IN BLUE DRAGONS ROAD VICTORY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GARDEN CITY – Hutchinson Community College sophomore Hailey Jackson scored 12 of her career-high 32 points in a decisive third quarter to pace the eighth-ranked Blue Dragons on Thursday at Garden City.

Leading by four points at halftime, the Blue Dragons outscored the Broncbusters 21-10 in the third quarter and opened leads as large as 20 points in the second half as Hutchinson earned a season sweep of Garden City with a 66-53 victory at Conestoga Arena.

The Blue Dragons improved to 22-2 overall and moved back into a first-place tie with Dodge City in the Jayhawk Conference standings at 16-2. Hutchinson plays host to Cloud County at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Arena. Garden City fell to 11-13 overall and 8-11 in the KJCCC.

Jackson reached the 30-point plateau for the third time this season, hitting 11 of 14 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer, and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line to lead the Blue Dragons. Jackson approached a double-double with eight rebounds and two assists.

Jackson was a perfect 5 of 5 in her 12-point third quarter. She started the period with an offensive rebound and putback at the 9:04 mark. Jackson had a personal seven-point run, capping it with a three-point play at the 28 second mark to give the Dragons a 46-33 lead.

Jackson's career game helped her jump into the Blue Dragon career scoring list's Top 10. She moved past four players and is now No. 10 in career scoring with 920 points.

The Blue Dragons shot a season-high 57.5 percent for the game as the Dragons hit 23 of 40 field goals. Hutchinson was 3 of 10 from 3-point range and 17 of 32 from the foul line. The Dragons had a 27-26 rebounding advantage. The Dragons committed 20 turnovers.

Jackson was the only Blue Dragon in double figures. Jada Pleasant and Brynne Katcher had six points each. Madi Denison had five points, eight rebounds and three steals. Honey Cooney also had five points, including a 3-point goal.

Ana Ramos Pires had 15 points to lead Garden City. Antonicia Moultrie finished with 13 points and Bruna Costa Da Silva had 11 points.

The Busters shot 38.2 percent for the game (21 of 55), going 3 of 21 from 3-point range and 8 of 13 from the free-throw line. Garden City had 19 turnovers.

Hutchinson started the game on a 7-0 run on a Denison inside bucket, a Jackson three-point play and another Jackson inside hoop in the first 2:42. Garden City then answered with five in a row, a run stopped by a Denison inside score. Denison scored again with 2:40 left to give the Dragons a 15-7 lead. A Landon Forbes steal and layup pulled the lead to 17-7 with 2:06 to play. Shooting 7 of 11 in the first 10 minutes, the Dragons led 17-10 after one quarter.

The Blue Dragons cooled off in the second quarter, going only 1 of 6 from the field with six turnovers as Garden City clawed its way back into the game. The Dragons lead 22-14 after two Jackson free throws with 6:28 to play in the quarter. Garden City scored seven unanswered to pull within 22-21 after a Ajong Lual bucket with 4:30 to play. The Dragons were able to hold off the Busters, getting two Carly Dameron free throws with 1:24 to go to build a 27-23 halftime lead.

Hutchinson regained its offensive flow in the third quarter, hitting 9 of 14 from the field while holding Garden City to 4 of 11 shooting. Jackson converted a three-point play with 7:33 remaining to boost the Dragon lead to 34-25. The Dragons reached a double-figure lead on a Cooney 3-point field goal for a 37-26 lead with 4:10 to go. The lead grew to 15 on a Jackson field goal with 2:11 to play in the period. The Dragons outscored Garden City 21-10 in the quarter and led 48-33 after three quarters.

The Dragons built their largest lead of 20 at 60-40 after a Kahlen Norris 3-pointer with 5:24 to play in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTES – Hailey Jackson tied a career high with 11 field goals. … Jackson moved past Tessa Morrow, Amanda Flick, Penny Fischer and Jackie Patterson to move into 10th place on the career scoring list. … With nine free throws, Jackson moved past Natasha McAtee into seventh place on the career free-throw list with 247 free throws. Jackson moved past Dejanae Roebuck into sixth on the single-season free-throw list with 146. … The Dragons are 4-0 this season when committing 20 or more turnovers. … The Dragons are 7-2 in true road games this season.