Blue Dragon Sports Information

Mother Nature wiped out Hutchinson Community College women's basketball head coach John Ontjes' first attempt at coaching his 500th game with the Blue Dragons.

That milestone game for Ontjes will now come on Saturday when the Coffeyville Red Ravens come to the Sports Arena for a 5:30 p.m. Jayhawk Conference contest.

Because of the midweek winter storm, Hutchinson's game at Butler was postponed twice. No make-up date has been set yet. The Blue Dragons (19-4) haven't played since an 84-74 win over Cowley last Saturday at Arkansas City, which extended their current win streak to six games.

Coffeyville did play on Wednesday and dropped a 60-51 home decision to Barton at Nellis Hall. The Red Raven (15-7) have lost two games in a row.

The Blue Dragons open play on Saturday just one full game out of first place after Seward County defeated first-place Independence on Thursday in Independence. The Blue Dragons and Saints are now tied for second in the KJCCC with 13-4 records.

Saturday's contest features the Nos. 1 and 4 scorers in the Jayhawk. Blue Dragon freshman guard comes off a 27-point outlast last week against Cowley and leads the KJCCC in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Coffeyville forward Faith Simpson is fourth in the league in scoring at 14.9 points and third in rebounding at 9.0 boards per game.

Coffeyville won the first meeting this season, defeating the Blue Dragons 64-63 in overtime on December 8 at Nellis Hall in Coffeyville. Kalyn Ervin was Hutchinson's leading scorer with 21 points. Williams had 13 and Mele Kailahi had 10. Dariauna Carter had 14 points, while Simpson added 12 points and 15 rebounds.

In addition to coaching his 500th game with the Blue Dragons, Ontjes' next victory will tie former Coffeyville coach Craig Brookover for third on both the KJCCC and Region VI all-time coaching wins' list with 414 wins.

The Blue Dragons bid to clinch the 30th 20-win season in the program's 48-year history.