Oct 19, 2021

Blue Dragon women's basketball starts No. 21 in NJCAA Rankings

Posted Oct 19, 2021 10:34 AM

STEVE CARPENTER

HutchCC Sports Information

For the 13th-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team is part of the NJCAA Division I Preseason Rankings.

The Blue Dragons were ranked No. 21 on Monday when the NJCAA released its preseason national rankings. The two-time defending Jayhawk West champions open their season on Tuesday, November 2 against the Bethany College Junior Varsity at the Sports Arena.

Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes begins his 15th season at Hutchinson with a record of 394-82.

Ontjes has four returning players from a 19-5 team that won the Jayhawk West outright. But Blue Dragons’ season came to an end in the Region VI Tournament semifinals.

Hutchinson is one of three KJCCC teams ranked in the Top 25. Defending Jayhawk East champion Butler starts at No. 17. Defending Region VI champion opens at No. 25.

Northwest Florida State is the preseason pick at No. 2 for the 2021-22 season. Tyler is second, Chipola third, Jones fourth and New Mexico Junior College is ranked fifth.

NJCAA DIVISION I PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RANKINGS

1. Northwest Florida State (8) 200

2. Tyler JC 192

3. Chipola 184

4. Jones 176

5. New Mexico JC 168

6. Shelton State 160

7. South Plains 152

8. Three Rivers 144

9. South Georgia Tech 136

10. Casper 128

11. Trinity Valley 120

12. Georgia Highlands 112

13. Wabash Valley 104

14. Western Nebraska 96

15. Weatherford 88

16. Eastern Arizona 80

17. Butler 72

18. Hill 64

19. Florida Southwestern State 56

20. Moberly Area 48

21. Hutchinson 40

22. Walters State 32

23. Southern Idaho 24

24. Eastern Oklahoma State 16

25. Independence 8