By DAREN DUNN
Hutch Post
GREAT BEND, Kan. — For the first time this season, No. 20 Hutchinson went into the locker room trailing.
Day 1 of the Barton Classic pit the Blue Dragons against the No. 5 Labette Cardinals of Division II.
Hutchinson (5-0) struggled from the field early. The Dragons were 4 of 27 shooting just 15 minutes into the contest.
Labette (0-1) took a 25-19 advantage into the locker room.
The Dragons went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to four halfway through the third quarter.
Labette still pushed the lead to 43-36 at the end of three.
Hutchinson sped up the contest and rallied to a 48-46 advantage with 5:41 remaining.
The game was tied with 90 seconds left.
With 1:08 remaining, Janaya Washington drew a foul on a defensive rebound and went to the other end for bonus free throws. She made one of the two attempts to put Hutchinson up 54-53.
A defensive stand gave Hutchinson the ball with 34 seconds left.
Full-court pressure got the ball back for Labette and a layup put the Cardinals up one.
On the next possession, Hutchinson's Kalyn Ervin hit a three and was fouled with 11.6 seconds remaining. The four-point play put Hutchinson up three.
Labette took a timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt.
The Cardinals missed a step-back three at the buzzer.
FINAL: Hutchinson 58 Labette 55
Hutchinson erased an 11-point deficit.
Mya Williams scored all of her 17 points in the second half.
Tor'e Alford added 11.
Hutchinson outscored Labette 22-12 in the final frame.