By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Friday's nightcap featured a score that was tied 13 times.
Hutchinson (2-0) battled No. 12 Odessa (0-1) down to the literal wire.
The game was tied 48-all at halftime. Nothing was even decided with 17 seconds left. A foul against Hutchinson put Odessa's Dian Wright-Ford on the line. He put the Wranglers up by one and gave Hutchinson a chance to respond.
Down 88-87, Hutchinson got the ball inside to Jacquez Yow. With 5.2 seconds left, he was fouled in the act of shooting. Upset with the call, Odessa coach Kris Baumann voiced his displeasure and was immediately assessed a technical.
The Class A technical foul put Angelo Stuart on the line for two before play resumed with two Yow free throws. Hutchinson made just 26 of 42 free throw attempts, but made them when it mattered.
All four made free throws put Hutchinson up 91-88. A strategic foul put Daniss Jenkins on the line with 3.1 seconds left. He accidentally made the second free throw to make it 91-90. An inbound with 1.6 seconds left allowed Hutchinson another trip to the line. Nate Goodlow missed his only free throw of the night (3-4) on purpose to run out the clock.
FINAL: Hutchinson 92 Odessa 90
Odessa built an eight-point lead with less than seven minutes left. Hutchinson took the lead back with 2:28 left, thanks in part to seven straight points from Kobe Campbell.
Campbell was one of four Dragons in double-digit scoring. Campbell finished with 14 while Stuart led the way with 22. Yow (21) and Aaron Franklin (12) also scored in double figures.
The Dragons were outrebounded 56-50.
Hutchinson had 21 turnovers while Odessa racked up 31.
Hutchinson shot just 33% and put up 88 shots. Odessa shot 45.1% on 71 attempts.
Odessa made 23 of 35 free throws.
Hutchinson is in the Sports Arena again Saturday night at 7:30 for a matchup with NOC-Tonkawa.