Hutchinson CC Sports Information

One of the fiercest rivalries in the Jayhawk Conference will decide one spot in the Region VI Women's Basketball Tournament championship game.

The No. 8-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team (30-2) will meet the Jayhawk East champion Butler Grizzlies (26-4) in the semifinals of the 2019 Region VI Tournament at 1 p.m. on Monday at Hartman Arena in Park City. The winner advances to the Region VI Tournament championship game at 5 p.m. on Wednesday against the Seward County/Barton winner.

Monday's game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) with Glen Grunwald (play by play) and Rusty Hilst (analysis) calling the action beginning at 12:50 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network beginning at 12:50 p.m.

Longtime Jayhawk West rivals – Butler moved to the Jayhawk East before this season with the latest realignment – the Blue Dragons and Grizzlies do battle in a Region VI Tournament matchup for the fourth time overall and first since 2014 Region VI Tournament Championship game. The Blue Dragons are 3-0 in Region VI meetings with the Grizzlies, two of those meetings were one-possession decisions.

In their only meeting of this season on December 8 at the Sports Arena, the Blue Dragons defeated Butler 77-61.

In that game, the Blue Dragons snapped a 20-game streak of not shooting 50 percent against Butler by hitting 24 of 48 total shots. It's the first time to shoot 50 percent or better against the Grizzlies since January 14, 2009. Mixed in to that overall shooting percentage were 9 of 22 from 3-point range with seven different Blue Dragons hitting shots from long range.

Sophomore Dejanae Roebuck hit 8 of 10 field goals to finish with a game-high 17 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophomore Jada Mickens had 16 points and eight rebounds on 5 of 6 shooting, both from the floor and foul line. Freshman Makayla Vannett hit three 3-pointers to finish with 15 points.

Butler finished 18 of 55 shooting overall (32.7 percent), going 5 of 20 from 3-point range and 20 of 29 from the foul line. Jalise Smallwood and Kyla Callins had 14 points each to lead Butler. Lauryn Snipes had 11 points.

The Blue Dragons advanced to their 11th consecutive Region VI semifinal after a 74-62 victory Independence on Saturday. Roebuck and Makayla Vannett scored 17 points each with Jada Mickens added in 13 for the Blue Dragons, who shot 44.2 percent overall, hitting 6 of 21 3-point shots. Indy was limited to 37.5 percent shooting and 4 of 14 from 3-point range.

With 3:44 to play in the third quarter, Butler trailed Pratt in their Region VI quarterfinal 39-32. The Beavers scored only one more point the rest of the game against the top defensive team in the Jayhawk East. Butler's defense held Pratt to 28.0 percent shooting, only 5 of 23 from 3-point range and forced 28 turnovers.

Kyla Callins scored 21 points to lead the Grizzlies.

Hutchinson and Butler are 1-2 in defensive scoring – the Dragons at 52.0 points per game allowed and Butler at 53.8 points. The teams also rank 1-2 in defensive field-goal percentage – Hutch allows 31.3 percent shooting and Butler allows 32.5 percent shooting. The Grizzlies are No. 1 in forcing turnovers at 24.2 per game. The Blue Dragons are No. 2 at 22.3 turnovers forced per game.