HUTCHINSON, Kan. (BlueDragonSports.com) – Sophomore Hailey Jackson hit two free throws with less than 2 seconds remaining and the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team then waited through a video review with no time left on the clock to extend its overall and KJCCC winning streaks on Saturday.
Jackson hit two game-tying free throws with 48.4 seconds remaining then sank a pair go-ahead free throws with 1.2 seconds left to help the Blue Dragons avert a Cowley Tiger upset bid in a 62-60 Jayhawk Conference victory at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons won their third one-possession game of the season and improved to 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the KJCCC. The Dragons extended their program-record winning streak to 51 games, their KJCCC win streak to 36 games and their Sports Arena win streak to 24 games. The Blue Dragons travel to play at Butler at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in El Dorado. Cowley fell to 9-5 overall and 4-5 in the KJCCC.
Playing for the first time in 21 days, the Blue Dragons jumped out fast to a 14-1 lead with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter. By forcing 19 Dragon turnovers, the Tigers battled back and took a 58-56 lead after an Elyse Martinez transition layup with 2:23 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Blue Dragons missed on two-straight possessions to tie the game, but Jackson knotted the score at 58-all on a third possession after making two free throws with 48.4 seconds to play. Cowley turned the ball over on its next possession with 25.6 seconds left.
With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Landon Forbes drove down the left side of the lane and wrapped a pass around to a wide-open Brynne Katcher, who scored with 4.9 seconds remaining to give the Blue Dragons a 60-58 lead. The Tigers advanced the ball to the front court after a timeout and Hattie Pyle was fouled with 1.2 seconds remaining. Pyle sank both free throws to tie the game at 60-60.
The Blue Dragons advanced the ball to the front court after a timeout. Jackson was fouled on the inbound pass. She completed her seventh double-double of the season with a pair of free throws for a 62-60 lead with 1.2 seconds to play.
Cowley used its final timeout to advance the ball. Tiger forward Alexcia Murphy hit a 12-foot shot, but the attempt was waved off because it came after the final buzzer. Replay confirmed the call and the game was over.
Jackson finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead Hutchinson. Jackson was 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.
Dylan Alexander was the only other Blue Dragon to score in double figures with 10 points. Kahlen Norris had nine points and Katie Duncan closed with seven points.
The Blue Dragons shot 42.0 percent for the game (21 of 50), hitting 3 of 11 from 3-point range and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Cowley 36-34.
Martinez had a team-high 16 points to lead the Tigers. Murphy had 12 points and 13 rebounds to be the first opponent with a double-double against the Dragons this season. Jamie Molina hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
The Tigers were held 25 points under their season scoring average. Cowley shot 40.7 percent for the game (24 of 59), including 6 of 27 from 3-point range and 6 of 11 from the foul line. The Tigers had 11 turnovers.
The Dragons opened the game with a 14-1 run, holding the Tigers to 0 of 12 shooting to start the game. Hutchinson led 16-5 after the opening quarter. The Dragons were 7 of 13 shooting, while the Tigers were 2 of 16.
Cowley closed an 11-4 run to start the second quarter after a Martinez 3-pointer with 5:56 to play pulled the Tigers within 20-16. The Dragons answered that challenge and led 25-18 after a Duncan layup with 3:26 left. Cowley made it a one possession game after a Keturah Stewart 3-pointer, but Jaden Wilson sank a pair of free throws with 37 seconds left for a 30-25 Hutchinson lead at halftime.
Jackson’s jumper with 9:43 to play in the third quarter was the only points by either team in the first 2 1/2 minutes. A Forbes’ 3-pointer with 7:00 to go in the quarter upped the Dragon led to 37-28. A Forbes’ 2-pointer at the 5:15 mark gave the Dragons an 11-point lead at 41-30. That was Hutchinson’s last field goal for the next 3 minutes as the Tigers pulled within 42-40 after a Georgia Knight bucket with 1:52 left. The Dragons took a 48-42 lead after three quarters when Duncan banked in a bucket just before the final buzzer.
Katcher’s putback with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Hutchinson a 54-46 lead. But Cowley went on a 10-2 run to take a 58-56 lead after Martinez’s layup with 2:23 to play.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 34-24 all-time against Cowley, including 16-6 in the Sports Arena. … This was head coach John Ontjes’ 497th victory at Hutchinson. … The 24-game homecourt win streak ties for the fourth longest homecourt win streak in program history. … The Blue Dragons were outscored 23-9 in points off turnovers. … Hailey Jackson now has nine career double-doubles.
