Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Not often are the first 2 minutes, 18 seconds of a basketball the deciding stretch of the contest, but that's what happened on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.
The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team overwhelmed the Neosho County Panthers with a variety of full-court presses that led to multiple turnovers and the Blue Dragons grabbed total control in the first 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
The No. 12-ranked Blue Dragons reached a double-figure lead just 1:36 into the game and never looked back in a 100-58 Jayhawk West victory over Neosho County at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Jayhawk West. Neosho County falls to 1-3 and 0-2 in the Jayhawk East.
Hutchinson hit 5 of its first 7 shot attempts in the initial surge against Neosho County. The Panthers, meanwhile, were blitzed by the Dragon press. Hutch had four steals – Tor'e Alford, Yana Grassity and Kalyn Ervin with two – were part of the six total turnovers by Neosho County in the first 2:18.
A steal and layup by Grassity gave Hutch a 11-0 lead at the 8:24 mark. Another steal led to a Nafatoumata Haidara transition hoop and when Alford made two free throws with 7:42 remaining the Blue Dragons led 15-0.
The Dragons continued to apply pressure with the press and outscored the Panthers 31-11 in the opening quarter, holding Neosho County to 3 of 12 shooting from the floor and forcing 13 Panthers turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
Hutch led 49-24 at halftime and 80-39 after three quarters. The Dragons' largest lead of the game was 45.
A season-high five Blue Dragons scored in double figures on Saturday.
Haidara and K.K. Adams had 15 points each to tie for game-high scoring honors. Haidara's 15 points was a season high on 7 of 9 shooting and she had three fast-break buckets. Adams went 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 6 of 9 shooting overall.
Sophomore Lojong Gore and freshman Lani Morris led a Blue Dragon 57-34 advantage in points off the bench. Gore had 14 points, hitting 9 of 11 free throws. She finished with seven rebound. Morris had 12 of her season-high 14 points in the second 20 minutes. She also had seven rebounds.
Alford had a season-high three 3-pointers and had 11 points with four rebounds and four assists.
Hutchinson shot 45.2 percent overall (38 of 84), knocking down 9 of 23 from 3-point range and 15 of 22 from the free-throw line. Grassity's season-high seven assists were part of a season-high 27 team assists. Four different Blue Dragons had at least three steals as Hutch totaled 20 steals for the game.
The Blue Dragons held Neosho County to season lows in points scored (58), shot percentage (32.3) and made 3-pointers (8).
The Panthers were 20 of 62 shooting, 8 of 29 from the foul line and 10 of 18 from the free-throw line. The Panthers committed a Blue Dragon opponent-high 33 turnovers.
Mike'ya House had 13 points to lead Neosho County while Briona Jensen had 4 3-pointers and closed with 12 points.
Hutchinson goes on the road for the first time on Wednesday to re-new its rivalry with the Butler Grizzlies at 5:30 p.m. at the Power Plant in El Dorado.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 27-2 all-time against Neosho County and extended their win streak over the Panther to eight games. … The Dragons scored 100 in back-to-back games in the series and for the third time in series history. … The 31-point quarters in the first and third periods Saturday were the second and third times to reach 30 points in a single quarter this season. … Freshman Cherrelle Newsom had season highs of two 3-pointers and eight points. … Kate Ogle had a season high eight rebounds and career-high six assists. … Yana Grassity had a season-high seven assists.