BLUE DRAGONS FALL AT NO. 18 COFFEYVILLE

Steele Gaston-Chapman had 10 points as one of three Blue Dragons to score in double figures in a 90-68 loss at No. 18 Coffeyville on Wednesday. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

February 8, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COFFEYVILLE – The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team received several early haymakers from No. 18 Coffeyville in the first 8 minutes of their Jayhawk Conference battle on Wednesday and the Blue Dragons never recovered.

The Dragons fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first 8 minutes and never got untracked on a 90-68 loss to the Red Ravens at Nellis Hall.

The Blue Dragons drop to 15-10 overall, 9-10 in the Jayhawk Conference with first-place Dodge City coming to the Sports Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Coffeyville moved into sole possession of second place in the KJCCC at 14-5 and are 20-5 overall.

Aaron Franklin had 17 points on 8 of 17 shooting to pace the Blue Dragons, who shot 40.6 percent for the game. Franklin finished with six rebounds.

The Blue Dragons got solid bench contributions from Dre Weathers and Steele Gaston-Chapman. Weathers finished with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting with four rebounds. Gaston-Chapman had 10 points with four rebounds and two assists.

Ra'Sean Frederick had nine points, while Kieran Carr and Antonio Green had six points each.

The Blue Dragons were 28 of 69 from the field, going 7 of 27 from 3-point range and 5 of a season-low 8 free-throw attempts. The Dragons were out-rebounded 41-34 and had 14 turnovers.

Jordan Wildy had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead the Red Ravens to their third-straight win over the Blue Dragons. Wildy was 10 of 11 shooting. Sotirios Nafpliotis hit 5 of 7 from 3-point range to finish with 17 points. Landon Clasper had 14 points and Nathan Johnson added 11 for the Ravens.

Coffeyville shot 53.3 percent for the game (32 of 60), hitting 9 of 19 from 3-point range ad 17 of 23 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons had another cold shooting start to the game, going just 2 of 13 from distance in the opening 20 minutes. Hutchinson was down 22-6 after a Johnson jumper with 12:13 to play in the half. Coffeyville upped the lead to 29-13 after an Izek Jackson bucket with 9:16 to go in the half.

Green scored with 5:58 to play in the half to pull the Dragons within 33-22. The Blue Dragons never pulled closer than that as Coffeyville shoots 56.7 percent to Hutchinson's 36.8 percent and the Ravens led 46-32 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons hit their first three 3-point attempts of the second half to pull within seven points. Kernan Bundy, Gaston-Chapman and Jayden Garrison all scored from keep to pull the Dragons within 48-41 with 17:30 to play.

Coffeyville answered with a 9-0 run over the next 2:52 to reclaim control of the game. Nafpliotis hit a 3-pointer to extend the Raven run to 18-5 and give Coffeyville a 64-46 lead with 12:27 remaining. Two Nafpliotis free throws at the 11:04 mark capped off a 22-5 Red Raven run and Coffeyville led 70-46.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 31-26 all-time against Coffeyville, 8-12 against the Ravens in Coffeyville. … The 22-point margin of loss is the largest in the series by the Blue Dragons against the Ravens. … The Blue Dragons are 5-6 in road games this season. … The was Dre Weathers' third game scoring in double figures this season. … Hutchinson's five steals are a season low. … Coffeyville is the 17th opponent to shoot 5 percent or better this season.