By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 4 Hutchinson (13-1, 7-1) has been no stranger to comebacks this season.
Most notably, the Dragons trailed Clarendon by 20 with only seven minutes left earlier this year and came back to win by two.
The second half Saturday night started to have that same feel when Hutchinson cut a No. 10 Dodge City (11-1, 6-0) lead that ballooned to as many as 23, down to two with five minutes left.
Hutchinson went into the locker room facing a 55-39 deficit after shooting 30.2% and allowing Dodge City to make 67.7% of its 31 attempts. The Conquistadors tallied 38 points in the paint in the first half, 70 for the game.
Hutchinson gave up 37 fast break points on the night.
Themus Fulks and Mykell Robinson had 28 points each to lead Dodge City. Fulks hit important free throws down the stretch to keep a narrow advantage in the end.
Hutchinson had cut the lead to seven with less than eight minutes gone in the second half. Hutchinson then cut that lead to four with eight minutes to play after an Angelo Stuart three. Stuart poured in a career-high 34 points on 10 of 18 shooting, including 6 of 9 from three.
Kobe Campbell added 22 off the bench for Hutchinson.
Dodge City only shot 61.9% from the free throw line, but made just enough attempts when it mattered to ice the game.
FINAL: Dodge City 102 Hutchinson 96
Hutchinson was without 6-foot-8 starting forward Josiah Harris (5 points, 6 rebounds per game).
Dodge City started four players 6-6 or taller while Hutchinson was forced to start with an all-guard lineup that was 6-5 and shorter.
Hutchinson only lost the rebounding battle by four, but gave up 70 points in the paint while scoring 42 of its own.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.