DRAGON DEFENSE DOES ITS JOB IN WIN OVER BUTLER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 8-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team's defense returned to form on Saturday to earn a key Jayhawk Conference victory over the Butler Grizzlies at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

After allowing 136 points in the last two games, the Blue Dragons limited the Grizzlies to a season-low offensive output, 37.5 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers as Hutchinson outlasted Butler 54-49.

The Blue Dragons improved to 24-3 overall and remained one game out of first place in the KJCCC at 18-3. Hutchinson also clinched a first-round bye for the upcoming Region 6 Tournament. The Dragons play host to Pratt at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Butler is now 20-6 overall and 15-6 in the KJCCC.

The Blue Dragons extended their home-court winning streak to 30 games.

Hutchinson led 34-27 at halftime and an 11-0 run upped the lead to 52-40 with 9:10 to play in the fourth quarter. The Blue Dragons had to lean on their defense from that point. The Dragons went scoreless for the next 7 minutes, 38 seconds and the Grizzlies pulled within 52-49 with 3:47 left after two Keegan Yarick free throws.

Those points turned out to be the last points scored by Butler, which was held without a field goal for the final 5:50 of the game. After the Grizzlies got within three points, the Blue Dragon defense held Butler to 0 of 7 shooting from the floor and two turnovers to seal the victory and a season sweep of the Grizzlies.

Hailey Jackson posted her 10th double-double of the season to lead the Blue Dragons. Jackson had 13 points and 12 rebounds against the Grizzlies.

Kahlen Norris finished with 12 points, hitting a pair of 3-point goals, and three steals. Katie Duncan had a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 10 points. Brynne Katcher had eight points and seven rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 36.1 percent (22 of 61), hitting 7 of 31 from 3-point range and was only 3 of 9 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Butler 42-33 and had 17 assists and six turnovers.

Yarick had 14 points to lead Butler. Lucia Lara had 12 points. The Grizzlies were 18 of 48 shooting overall, 4 of 22 from 3-point range and 9 of 15 from the foul line.

This is the 13th game this season that the Blue Dragons have held an opponent to less than 50 points.

The Blue Dragons shot 50 percent in the first quarter (10 of 20) to build a 21-14 lead after 10 minutes. Tied at 6-all, Jackson scored four points in a 6-0 run to build a 12-6 lead with 4:16 remaining in the quarter. A Norris 3-pointer with 2:03 to go gave the Dragons a 17-8 lead. Butler pulled within five points twice, but Jackson hit a 15-foot jumper just before the buzzer for a 21-14 lead.

Leading 23-18 in the second quarter, the Dragons surged with a 7-0 run that was capped by a Honey Cooney jump shot with 6:06 left for a 30-18 lead. Butler countered with a 9-1 run and pulled within 31-27 after a Yarick 3-pointer with 1:58 left. The Dragons got a 3-pointer from Duncan with 12 seconds left to carry a 34-27 lead into halftime.

Landon Forbes opened the second half with a 3-pointer for a 10-point lead at 37-27. The Blue Dragons then went the next 6 minutes, 13 seconds with only one field goal from Katcher and four points overall, but the Dragons refused to relinquish the lead. Lara scored with 3:00 to play to pull the Grizzlies within 41-40. Duncan and Norris then hit 3-pointers and Katcher scored with 2 seconds left for a 49-40 lead after three quarters.

Jada Pleasant opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to cap an 11-0 Dragon run for a 52-40 lead with 9:10 remaining. The Dragons went on to miss 10 consecutive shots as Butler pulled within 52-49

with 3:47 to play. The teams then matched defensive stops on five consecutive possessions each. With less than 2 minutes remaining, the Blue Dragons got huge offensive rebounds from Jackson and Duncan to keep their possession alive. Duncan then found a lane to the basket and drove in for a score with 1:32 to go for a 54-49 lead.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 64-34 all-time against Butler, 31-14 at the Sports Arena. … The Dragons earned their 20th regular-season sweep of Butler in series history. … The Dragons' 30-game homecourt win streak is the second longest in program history. … Hailey Jackson jumped five spots to No. 17 on the Hutchinson single-season scoring list with 495 points. … The Dragons are 13-0 at the Sports Arena this season. … The five points scored in the fourth quarter were a season low and the 20 points in the second half tied a season low. … The Dragons are 8-3 when shooting less than 40 percent.