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Connors State lassos Blue Dragons, ending Hutchinson’s NJCAA run

By Brad HallierKernan Bundy hiked his jersey over his face, his arms over his head.The inevitable was fast approaching, and the pain was evident for the Hutchinson Community College sophomore and his teammates. The final seconds of the Blue Dragons’ season soon elapsed, as 19th-seeded... Read More.

Blue Dragons roar past Chipola, advance to NJCAA quarterfinals

By Brad HallierThe Hutchinson Community College men's basketball players and coaches have heard the stories. The legends of how loud the Sports Arena could get during the NJCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship, especially the deeper the Blue Dragons get into the tournament.Tuesday, the... Read More.

Blue Dragons overcome sluggish start to salt away Salkehatchie

By Brad HallierEven after playing 19 games at the Hutchinson Sports Arena this season, the feeling was different Monday for the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team.The arena was the same, but the backdrop was not. This wasn’t a mid-week practice in an empty... Read More.

Barton tops Hutchinson men to win Region 6; Blue Dragons now wait

By Brad HallierIf you ask Hutchinson Community College men's basketball coach Tommy DeSalme, Sunday shouldn't be suspenseful.Alas, the only team in Kansas that can definitively prepare for the NJCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship as of Saturday evening is Barton.The top-ranked Cougars jumped to... Read More.

Still perfect! Blue Dragon women edge Butler to win Region 6 championship

By Brad HallierThroughout his illustrious tenure as Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball coach, John Ontjes has coached some outstanding teams.Some, like this year’s team, won a conference title.Some, like this year’s team, won the Region 6 championship.Some, like this year’s team, won both.Some, like... Read More.

Three storylines to follow for state girls basketball

By Brad HallierWe can talk about how the smaller classifications do substate later, but boy, it sure stings seeing Halstead and Smoky Valley not at the Class 3A state tournament, simply because they were in the same substate with equally powerful Hesston.It's state-tournament week,... Read More.

Three storylines to follow for state boys basketball

By Brad HallierThere were some surprises in substates, such as 15-loss Wichita East getting to the Class 6A state tournament, Class 4A bully Bishop Miege going out in the first round, and top-ranked Elyria Christian going ice cold in a Class 1A Division 2... Read More.

Three thoughts on Class 6A, 5A and 4A substate basketball

By Brad HallierNow, every basketball team in Kansas knows its postseason draw.Saturday morning, KSHSAA released brackets for Class 6A, 5A and 4A. Those classifications are, of course, set up a little differently than the others. Instead of eight substates with a preset location and... Read More.

Three Thoughts on Class 3A, 2A Substate Basketball

By Brad Hallier For some bizarre reason, KSHSAA classifications 3A and lower continue to adhere to the antiquated regionalized substate system. While 4A, 5A and 6A divide the state in half for substate, the smaller classifications maintain strict geography to decide the eight state-tournament qualifiers.That's... Read More.

Salthawk Sports Roundup: Boys Wrestling Qualify Seven for State

By Brad Hallier The Hutchinson High boys wrestling team navigated the brutal Class 5A West Regional and qualified seven for this weekend's state tournament at Hartman Arena in Park City.Cruz Cannon led the Salthawks with a runner-up finish at 106 pounds. He was the Salthawks'... Read More.

Three Thoughts on 1A Substate Basketball Substates

By Brad Hallier The madness has officially arrived in Kansas for 2024.Saturday morning, KSHSAA released the substate brackets for Class 1A Division and Division 2. While some 1A schools still have regular season games on the schedule, postseason play will get going Thursday at the... Read More.