By Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND, Kan. – The high-scoring Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team relied on its defense Friday to earn head coach Tommy DeSalme a milestone victory.
Hutchinson’s defense limited NOC-Enid to 35.6 percent shooting and only 28 points in the second half to open the Barton Classic to a 74-61 victory over the Jets at the Barton Gym.
The Blue Dragons (4-0) will play NOC-Tonkawa (3-2) at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Great Bend.
Friday’s victory gave DeSalme his 50th coaching victory on the Blue Dragon bench.
Hutchinson led 39-33 at halftime and kept NOC-Enid at arm’s length with a stingy defense. The Blue Dragons held NOC-Enid to 21 of 59 overall shooting and just 3 of 21 from distance. Hutchinson also forced 14 Jets’ turnovers and held a 48-31 rebounding advantage.
Sophomore forward Dre Weathers scored a career-high 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting to lead the Blue Dragons. Weathers added seven rebounds.
The Blue Dragons shot 46.3 percent (31 of 67) from the field. Hutchinson was 2 of 17 from 3-point range and 10 of 13 from the free-throw line. The Dragons had to overcome 22 turnovers.
Sophomore JP Ricks scored 12 points on 5 of 10 shooting for Hutchinson. Sophomore Kernan Bundy came off the bench to score 10 points and grab eight rebounds.
Valentino Simon finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Kamryn Thomas scored seven points.
Kole Scott scored a game-high 22 points, going 10 of 10 from the free-throw line to lead the Jets.
GAME NOTES: The Blue Dragons earned all-time win No. 1,898. … The Dragons are now 5-0 all-time against NOC-Enid
