Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team won its 21st-consecutive season opener as the Blue Dragons tied for the 10th largest margin of victory in program history on Tuesday night at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The No. 21-ranked Blue Dragons shot 50 percent and held Bethany scoreless for a nine-minute stretch of the first half as Hutchinson defeated the Bethany College Junior Varsity 95-24.
The 1-0 Blue Dragons now look forward to weekend games against Mineral Area and NEO this weekend in the BSN Sports Tipoff Classic.
The 71-point margin of victory tied a Nov. 23, 2013 108-37 victory over the Central Methodist JV for the 10th largest blowout in Blue Dragon history, which began its 45th season on Tuesday night.
The Blue Dragons trailed 10-9 when Jenika Moore hit a jumper with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter. Hutchinson immediately turned that around when Tor'e Alford hit a 3-pointer nailed a 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining. That 3-point sparked run of 24 unanswered Blue Dragon points over the next 7 minutes, 54 seconds. An Ishante Suttington free throw with 5:01 to play in the second quarter gave the Dragons a 33-10 lead.
Bethany went scoreless for 9 minutes, 17 seconds and without a field goal for 11 minutes, 36 seconds.
Hutchinson led 43-17 at halftime and 65-19 after three quarters.
Four players scored in double figures for the Blue Dragons. All 11 Blue Dragons to suit up scored in the game.
Alford scored a game-high 16 points, hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the Blue Dragons. Alford had three assists and three steals.
Freshman Mya Williams scored 15 points on 3 of 5 shooting from distance in her Blue Dragon debut.
Two other first-year Blue Dragons had memorable debuts.
Mele Kailahi had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ziya Simms was 4 of 4 from the field to finish with 11 points.
Kali Howard and Natalie Payne had nine point each. Payne also had six rebounds. Suttington had eight points.
Freshman Janaya Washington had five points, eight assists and four steals in her Hutchinson debut.
The Blue Dragons finished shooting 33 of 66 overall, nailing 8 of 25 from 3-point range and 21 of 28 from the free-throw line. The Dragons owned a 41-25 rebounding advantage. The Dragons had 24 assists, 16 steals and only 11 turnovers.
Bethany was held to 17.9 percent shooting (7 of 39). The Swedes were 2 of 17 from 3-point range, missing their final 14 attempts over the final 34 minutes. Bethany had 35 turnovers.
Mary Parks had six points to lead the Bethany JV. Moore and Arianna Reyes had five points each.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 36-0 all-time against the Bethany JV, including 29-0 at the Sports Arena. … the 71-point margin of victory is the second-largest in series history and the third margin of victory of 70 or more points in series history. … The 24 points allowed are the second-fewest in team history and the third time to hold Bethany to less than 30 points in a game. … Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes was his 395th game as the Hutchinson coach.