Hutchinson CC Sports Information

When the Hutchinson Community College Women's Basketball Team takes the court for the 2022-23 season opener on Tuesday at the Sports Arena, the expectations for John Ontjes' program will once again be high.

For the head coach of one of the top women's basketball teams in the NJCAA, those expectations are a normal part of daily business.

"Every year exceptions are high," said Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes, who starts his 16th season on the Hutchinson bench Tuesday night in the Hutchinson Sports Arena against the Bethany College Junior Varsity. "Just like most years it will be important that our sophomores will be great leaders to reach those expectations."

How high are the expectations for the 2022-23 Blue Dragons?

Hutchinson opens the season as the preseason favorite to win a fourth-straight Jayhawk Conference championship, according to the annual KJCCC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Blue Dragons also start No. 9 in the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball national rankings.

Last season, Hutchinson tied Independence for the Jayhawk Conference championship and then won the Region VI Tournament. The Blue Dragons finished 29-6 and advanced to the second round of the 2022 NJCAA Tournament.

A major piece of that team returns and will be one of the sophomores Ontjes referenced to lead the Blue Dragons in 2022-23.

First-Team All-American and KJCCC Player and Freshman of the Year Mya Williams is back this season.

Williams led the KJCCC in scoring last season, averaging 18.6 points per game. Williams shot 41.9 percent overall this past season, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range and 81.7 percent from the free-throw line. Williams' team-high 83 3-point goals were the fourth most by a freshman and ninth most in Blue Dragon history. Her 148 made free throws were second most in freshman history and fifth most in single-season history.

Williams became the Blue Dragons' all-time freshman leader and was No. 2 all-time in Blue Dragon scoring with 651 total points.

"Mya Williams will be important for us," Ontjes said. "She is a tremendous offensive player and we need her to commit to the defensive side of the game."

Overall, the Blue Dragons return two starters and six overall letter winners from last season.

Natalie Payne is a returning starting forward Payne averaged 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Kali Howard and Ziya Simms came off the bench last season for Hutchinson. Howard averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Simms averaged 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.

The Blue Dragons add sophomore transfer Morgan Browning to the mix this season. Browning is a transfer for Morehead State. She played in 28 games and started 23 last season and averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. She had a career-high 10 points against Tennessee State.

As far as the freshmen, out-of-state guards Journey Armstead and Monae Duffy have played strong in the preseason scrimmages. Liberal product Bree Horyna and Dodge City's Camree Johnson are in-state players who are expected to have an impact this season.

"The faster Journey and Monae progress, the better we will become," Ontjes said. "Bree and Camree should also play key roles for us this season."

After opening night on Tuesday, the Blue Dragons will play Mineral Area and NEO in the BSN Tipoff Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena. The Dragon open Jayhawk Conference play on November 16 against Independence at the Sports Arena.