DRAGONS DROP WILD OVERTIME BATTLE WITH PRATT

The Blue Dragons hit 16 3-pointers, but fall 130-126 to Pratt on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

January 25, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Aaron Franklin and Ra'Sean Frederick both had career scoring highs and the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team tied for the ninth-most points scored in program history on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

But the Pratt Beavers shot nearly 70 percent for the game and upended the Blue Dragons 130-126 in overtime.

The Blue Dragons fell to 14-7 overall and 8-7 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons travel to Barton on Saturday in Great Bend. Pratt improved to 12-8 and 9-6 teams split the season series and won at the Sports Arena for the first time since 2007.

Franklin scored a career-high 38 and posted his sixth double-double of the season, adding 14 rebounds. Franklin was 15 of 27 shooting, hitting 5 of 12 from 3-poinr range. Franklin hit a pair of 3-pointers in a second-half 13-0 run that gave the Blue Dragons an 82-75 lead.

Frederick posted his first career double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 11 of 22 total shots and a career-best three 3-point goals. Frederick hit a pair of 3-pointers and had seven points in the overtime session.

Pratt countered with 85 combined points from Sterling Young, Quintin Metcalf and Rodney Bayley. Young and Metcalf had 28 points each and Bailey scored 21 points. Pratt shot 69.1 percent for the game (47 of 68), going 6 of 10 from 3-point range and 30 of 42 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons shot 43.7 percent for the game (45 of 103), hitting 16 of 46 3-pointers and 20 of 32 from the foul line. The Dragons out-rebounded Pratt 51-37 and had 26 offensive rebounds.

The 16 pointers tied for the third most in Blue Dragon single-game history.

Jayden Garrison added 16 points and six rebounds for the Blue Dragons. Kieran Carr had 13 points, including game-tying 3-point goal with 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime at 111-111. Kernan Bundy had 10 points and a season-high eight assists.

The Blue Dragons got off to a sizzling start, hitting five 3-pointers en route to a 24-11 lead after an Antonio Green 3-pointer with 14:24 to play in the opening half. The Dragons hit eight first-half 3-pointers, but Pratt shot 65.6 percent with four 3-pointers and 10 free throws and slowly whittled away at the Dragon lead. The Blue Dragons led 57-56 at halftime.

Pratt opened the second half on a 19-12 run over the first 5:40 of the second half and led 82-75 on a Young 3-pointer with 14:20 to play. A Green tip-in sparked a 13-0 Dragon run that was capped by Franklin's 3-pointer gave the Dragons an 82-75 lead with 12:13 to play in the second half.

Franklin scored inside with 9:57 to go to give Hutchinson an 88-81 lead, but Pratt countered with a 23-8 run as the Dragons had just two field goals and four free throws over a stretch of 6 minute, 1 second and Pratt led 106-96 with 3:18 remaining in the second half.

The Blue Dragons put on a furious rally and held Pratt without a field goal over the final 3:36 of regulation. The Dragons closed the half on a 15-5 run. After Pratt's Sage Koelsch hit two free throws with 7.8 seconds to play, the Dragons sped the ball upcourt and Carr hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds to play in regulation to tie the score at 111-all.

The Blue Dragons had two leads in overtime, he first at 114-113 after a Frederick 3-pointer with 4:16 to play. The second lead was at 122-121 after a Carr 3-pointer with 1:21 to go. Pratt scored six unanswered points to lead 127-122 with 17 seconds to go. Franklin hit a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds to play to cut the lead to 128-126, but Young sank two free throws with 2.3 seconds left to complete the victory.

GAME NOTES – In two games against Pratt this season, the teams combined for 494 points. … The 256 combined points were the third most in Blue Dragon team history. … The 126 points scored were the second most by a Blue Dragon team in a single loss. … The 130 points allowed were the second most allowed in team history. … Franklin's 15 field goals tied for the third most by a Blue Dragon in single-game history. … This was Hutchinson's 11th 100-point game of the season. … Franklin posted his sixth career 30-point game.