Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – Aaron Franklin posted his second double-double of the season and six Blue Dragons scored in double figures as the No. 6-ranked Hutchinson Community College Men's Basketball Team got a tougher-than-expected challenge from Division II Wilbur Wright College in a 112-89 victory in the final game of the Barton Classic at the Barton Gym.
The Blue Dragons improve to 6-0 and will open conference play against Independence at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday to open Jayhawk Conference play at the Sports Arena.
Hutchinson had to overcome on of the performances by an opposing player in program history on Saturday when Wilbur Wright's Donald McCurdy poured in 44 points on 13 of 16 3-pointers. The 13 treys are the most ever by a Blue Dragon opponent and the 44 points are the second most by an opposing player.
McCurdy kept the Rams close. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Dragon lead to 22-17 with 10:40 to play in the first half. The Dragons were able to create some distance finally with a 12-0 run and built a 34-17 lead after a Franklin jumper with 8:12 to play in the first half.
The Dragons built a 55-35 lead after a Franklin 3-pointer with 1:23 to play in the half. Hutchinson led 58-40 at halftime. Jayden Garrison's 3-pointer with 17:03 left in the second half built a 69-47 lead. McCurdy kept bombing away. His ninth 3-pointer of the game pulled the Rams back within seven at 76-70 with 11:24 to go.
The Blue Dragons once again claimed control of the game with a quick 10-0 run. Jackson Leyba's 3-pointer with 8:07 to go upped the Dragon lead to 87-70. The Dragons officially put the game away with a 15-2 run.
Hutchinson broke the 100-point mark for the sixth consecutive game, extending that program record.
The Blue Dragons shot 37.9 percent for the game (39 of 103), hitting a season-low 8 of 45 from 3-point range and 26 of 34 from the free-throw line. The Dragons outrebounded Wilbur Wright 69-45, grabbing a school-record 40 offensive rebounds in the game.
Franklin finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was 9 of 18 shooting with two 3-pointers.
Garrison just missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Garrison also added four steals. Ty Frierson added 10 points.
The Blue Dragon bench produced 52 points. Antonio Green had a stellar game with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Dadrevius Weathers added 12 points on 6 of 9 shooting and five rebounds. Leyba had 11 points and a season-high seven rebounds. Aaron Potter had nine points.
Wilbur Wright shot 42.6 percent (29 of 68), finishing 15 of 27 from 3-point range and 16 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Rams had 28 turnovers to Hutchinson's 14.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons outscored the Rams 37-8 in second-chance points. … This was the first-ever meeting between Hutchinson and Wilber Wright. … The Blue Dragons start a season 6-0 for the 28th time in program history. … Ty Frierson and Ra'Sean Frederick tied for team-high assist honors with four each. The Dragons had 19 assists in the game.