By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. — The Pirates scored the game's first seven points and built an 11-4 lead just five minutes into Wednesday night's contest.
No. 17 Hutchinson trailed 21-9 after one quarter.
With 4:16 left before the break, Hutchinson trailed by the most it has all season at 35-11.
The Dragons trailed by 22 at halftime.
The Dragons outscored the Pirates by six in the second half, but could not make up the season's biggest deficit.
Independence scored 21-plus points in each quarter. Hutchinson kept pace in the second half, but turned in a nine-point first quarter and 11-point second quarter.
FINAL: Independence 85 Hutchinson 69
Three Pirates scored 15-plus points, led by Maisa Marcal's 23. She added 11 rebounds.
Tor'e Alford led Hutchinson with 23 and Mya Williams added 20.
Hutchinson is now 6-1 and will play Saturday in Concordia against Cloud County.