HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hailey Jackson knocked down three free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to give No. 1 Hutchinson a 45-44 win over Garden City on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.
Jackson is no stranger to the free throw line with a game on the line. The sophomore knocked down three shots from the stripe on April 1 in the national championship game with 0.7 remaining to send the game to overtime.
The Blue Dragons and the Broncbusters struggled to score the basketball, as both defenses led the way. Hutchinson (12-0, 6-0 KJCCC) led 19-18 at halftime, before growing a seven-point lead in the third quarter for the largest lead of the game.
Jackson finished with a game-high 25 points in the win, including 12 of 12 at the free throw line.
Sierra Driessen led the Broncbusters with 21 points in the loss. Garden City had a chance at the game-winner, but the 3-point shot was altered by Brynne Katcher, as time expired.
Garden City (7-5, 4-3) shot 32% from the floor, while taking 20 more field goal attempts than Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons knocked down 18 of 28 from the stripe, while the Broncbusters finished 5 of 13.
The Blue Dragons have now won 49 consecutive games, 33 straight games in the Jayhawk Conference.
HutchCC will travel to Concordia on Saturday to face Cloud County (10-2, 5-2) to close out the first semester. The game will tipoff at 2 p.m. inside of Arley Bryant Gymnasium.