Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The highly successful first season of the Tommy DeSalme era at Hutchinson Community College came to a close on Wednesday in the second round of the 2022 NJCAA Division I Tournament at the Sports Arena.
The No. 12-seed Blue Dragons fell to the fifth seeded and No. 7 nationally ranked Chipola Indians 85-62. The No. 21-ranked Blue Dragons end the season at 26-9.
Region VIII champion Chipola's length gave the Blue Dragons problems on both ends of the floor. Chipola's defense held the Blue Dragons to 31.9 percent overall shooting (22 of 69), including a season-low 3 of 24 from 3-point range.
The Blue Dragons were out-rebounded 57-31. The Indians grabbed 25 offensive rebounds. Chipola had 54 points in the paint.
Hutchinson was led by sophomore Angelo Stuart, who had 16 points. Stuart hit 2 of 8 from 3-point range and finished his one season at Hutchinson with a single-season record 104 3-pointers. Stuart was the Jayhawk Conference's leading scorer this season at 21.6 points per game.
Sophomore Kobe Campbell had a hard-nosed 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting. Cecil Lee scored 11 points.
Three Chipola players posted double-doubles in the second round. Achor led the Indians with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Nae'Qwan Tomlin defeated 18 points and 11 rebounds. Faizon Fields had 12 points and 12 boards.
The Indians shot 44.8 percent (30 of 67), going 3 of 11 from 3-point range and 22 of 32 from the free-throw line. Chipola had 20 turnovers.
Chipola jumped out quick to a 7-1 lead in the first 1:50 of the game. The Dragons withstood that early surge and eventually tied it at 16 on two Campbell free throws with 10:20 to play in the first half. Two more Campbell free throws tied the game at 22-all with 7:18 to play.
Chipola took command with an 11-4 run over the next 4 minutes, 23 seconds and built a 33-24 lead after a Jatarion Warren layup with 3:39 to play in the half.
Stuart sparked the Dragons late in the first half with a three-point play and 3-point goal to pull within 36-31 at halftime. Chipola scored the final four points of the half and led 42-33 at halftime.
Chipola made it a 12-0 run after scoring the first eight points of the second half and led 50-33 with 18:48 to play after a Tomlin dunk. Hutchinson eased its way back into the game and pulled within 56-50 after a Cecil Lee dunk with 12:37 to play in the second half.
Chipola scored the next seven points. Campbell stopped that run with a short jumper with 10:27 to play. But Chipola completed a 14-2 run with another run of seven unanswered points to lead 68-52 with 7:57 to play.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons lost for the third-straight time in the NJCAA Tournament second round. … The Dragons are now 1-2 all-time against Chipola, including 1-1 in the NJCAA Tournament. … Hutchinson's all-time postseason record is 205-84. … The Dragons are now 51-27 all-time in 23 NJCAA Tournament appearances, including 3-4 in the second round. … The 2022 Blue Dragons finished with a school single-season record 321 3-pointers this season. … Forward Jacquez Yow reached the career900-point plateau, finishing with 901 career points. … The Blue Dragons scored 3,296 points, the third most in single-season history. … The Dragons finished second in single-season history with 416 steals.