BLUE DRAGONS DEFEAT NO. 23 GARDEN CITY

Dre Weathers dunks for two of his career-high 17 points in the Blue Dragons' 80-60 victory over Garden City on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information

March 1, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Dre Weathers and Ra'Sean Frederick scored 17 points each and the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team rolled into the Region VI Tournament on a four-game winning streak.

Kernan Bundy's 3-point goal with 5:37 to play in the first half gave Hutchinson a 10-point lead over Garden City. That lead dipped back to single figures only four times as the Blue Dragons defeated the No. 23-ranked Broncbusters 80-60 on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

The 19-11 Blue Dragons (13-11 in the KJCCC) are the No. 6 overall seed for the Region VI Tournament which opens on Saturday. Hutchinson will play No. 11-seed Northwest Tech in the opening round at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Garden City had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 21-8, 16-8 in the KJCCC.

With their second 3-pointer of the game, an Aaron Potter trey, the Blue Dragons broke the program single-game record for 3-pointers. The Dragons now have 327 treys for the season, breaking the 2021-22 Blue Dragon record of 321.

Weathers posted career highs of 17 points and nine rebounds. The Blue Dragon freshman hit 7 of 8 shots.

Frederick was 7 of 15 from the field and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Aaron Franklin scored 13 points and moved into a tie for 15th place on the Blue Dragon single-season scoring list with Teko Wynder (1973) with 677 points.

Kieran Carr and Jayden Garrison had eight points each.

The Blue Dragons shot 48.4 percent for the game (31 of 64), hitting 7 of 20 from 3-point range and 11 of 17 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Garden City 38-25. Hutchinson had just 12 turnovers.

Buru Naivalurua led Garden City with 21 points. Larry Olayinka had 10 points.

The Busters shot 48.1 percent (25 of 52), hitting just 2 of 15 3-pointers and 8 of 15 from the free-throw line. The Busters had 18 turnovers.

The Blue Dragons got off to a slow offensive start with only two field goals in the first 5 1/2 minutes as Garden City build a 10-4 lead with 14:53 to play in the first half.

Frederick hit a 3-pointers at the 14:34 mark, sparking a 10-2 Dragon run that saw Hutchinson take its first lead of 14-12 on a Weathers dunk. Tre McClure hit a 3-pointer with 9:38 to go for a 19-14 lead. Weathers had back-to-back baskets for a 28-19 lead. Bundy hit a 3-pointer and Franklin scored for a 33-21 lead with 4:23 to play in the half.

The Blue Dragons led 45-33 at halftime.

DaJion Humphrey hit a 3-pointer to start the second half and pull Garden City within nine points at 45-36. That was the closest the Busters closed to for the remainder of the game. The Dragons answered with a Franklin tip-in, Frederick jumper and Garrison inside hoop gave the Blue Dragons a 51-36 lead with 17:23 to play.

Leading 56-45, the Blue Dragons exploded for a decisive 17-2 run over 6 minutes, 40 seconds. Six different Dragon players scored in that run. Franklin's layup capped the run and gave the Blue Dragons a 73-47 lead with 6:43 remaining.

The Blue Dragons outscored Garden City 35-27 in the second half.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 3-4 against nationally ranked opponents this season, earning its first win over a ranked opponent since December 10 over No. 8 Dodge City. … The Dragons earned all-time win No. 1,893. … The Dragons are 141-51 all-time against Garden City. … This was the sixth time the Dragons have held an opponent to two 3-pointers or less. … The Dragons are 11-5 at the Sports Arena this season. … This was the 23rd time the Dragons have had 15 or more offensive rebounds.