Courtesy of HutchCC Athletics
TIME: Women, 5:30 p.m. / Men, 7:30 p.m.
RADIO: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)
VIDEO: Blue Dragon Sports Network
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team aims for the sixth time in the John Ontjes era as the No. 14 Blue Dragons go on the road to play the Independence Pirates.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the ICC Fieldhouse.
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action. The game will be streamed live and free on the Blue Dragon Sports Network. The broadcasts begin at 5:15 p.m.
The Blue Dragons (8-0, 2-0 KJCCC) shot a season-high 52.3 percent and hit a season-high 12 3-pointers as Hutchinson rolled by Colby 86-46 on Sunday at the Sports Arena.
Six different Blue Dragons players hit at least one 3-pointer led by Kiki Smith's four treys in an 18-point performance against the Trojans.
The Blue Dragons bring the Jayhawk Conference's highest-scoring offense into Wednesday's game, averaging 87.9 points per game. The Blue Dragons also lead the KJCCC in total shooting at 47.6 percent from the field. Defensively, the Dragons have the fourth-best scoring defense at 53.8 points per game allowed.
Independence is 5-3 overall for first-year head coach Rob Beckmann, but have started the conference season 0-3. The Pirates have opened the league season running a gauntlet of four of the KJCCC's top teams - No. 20 Barton, undefeated Garden City (receiving votes), No. 16 Dodge City and No. 14 Hutchinson.
The Pirates were soundly defeated on Saturday at Dodge City, 95-57. Independence was held to 27.5 percent overall shooting and was just 2 of 24 from the 3-point line. The Pirates also committed 17 turnovers against the Conquistadors.
The ICC Fieldhouse has not been a friendly place for the Blue Dragons, who are 10-4 in games played in Independence.
Last season, the Dragons snapped a two-game losing streak on the home floor of the Pirates with an 82-58 victory last January.
Monae Duffy posted her third-straight double-double with 14 points on 7 of 11 shooting and 11 rebounds. Freshman Journey Armstead had 14 points, going 8 of 9 from the foul line in that victory over the Pirates.
MEN'S PREVIEW
The 21st-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team continues its first-semester Jayhawk Conference swing with a road trip to play the Independence Pirates on Wednesday.
Tipoff at the ICC Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Sean Boston (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action. The game will be streamed live and free on the Blue Dragon Sports Network. The broadcasts begin at 7:15 p.m.
The Blue Dragons bid for their fourth-consecutive victory for the season and an 18th straight win over Independence.
Last season the Dragons (7-1, 2-0 KJCCC) swept the season series against Independence, winning 99-94 at the Sports Arena and 115-94 at the ICC Fieldhouse.
Wednesday's meeting is the 79th in series history. Independence's last win in the series was a December 4, 2005 in the Jayhawk Shootout at Coffeyville. The last time the Dragons lost at the ICC Fieldhouse was February 2, 1987, a span of six games.
The Blue Dragons enter Wednesday's game after a Sunday battle with the Colby Trojans at the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons had a back-and-forth battle with Colby, but outscored the Trojans 13-2 in the final 2:29 of the game for a 92-81 victory.
After trailing by two points at halftime, Hutchinson shot 61.2 percent in the second half. J.P. Ricks scored a career-high 18 points and Kamryn Thomas followed with 17 points to lead the Blue Dragon comeback and move Hutchinson to 1-1 when trailing at halftime this season.
Independence (1-8, 0-3 KJCCC) is off to a slow start for first-year head coach Jason Steadman.
The Pirates have dropped eight games in a row since a season-opening 70-66 win over Labette at the Cowley Classic. Independence fell 101-92 in its last game out on Saturday at Dodge City. Ahmarree Muhammad had 31 points to pace the Pirates.
Hutchinson and Independence are two of the Blue Bloods of Jayhawk Conference men's basketball. The programs have a combined five NJCAA national championships - the Dragons winning in 1988, 1994 and 2017. Independence won back-to-back national championships in 1977 and 1978.
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