SOPHOMORES POWER DRAGONS PAST RED RAVENS

Kamryn Thomas posts a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the No. 15 Blue Dragons' 79-60 win over Coffeyville on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Network)

February 28, 2024

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Valentino Simon and Kamryn Thomas both posted double-doubles as the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team posted its first season sweep of Coffeyville since 2015-16 on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

The No. 15-ranked Blue Dragons defeated Coffeyville 79-60 on Sophomore Recognition Night, holding the Red Ravens to its third-lowest offensive output against Hutchinson since 1955.

The Blue Dragons solidified its hold on a top-three Jayhawk Conference finish and are now 24-4 overall and 19-3 in the KJCCC. The Dragons travel to play at No. 1 Barton on Saturday in Great Bend. Coffeyville fell to 11-19 overall and 7-15 in the KJCCC.

Simon and Thomas, who of the six sophomore recognized before Wednesday game, powered the Blue Dragons with identical double-doubles of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Simon's 10th double-double of the season had 7 of 13 shooting from the floor, including a 3-pointer. Thomas' second-straight double-double saw him go 8 of 17 from the floor and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Two other Blue Dragon scored in double figures. J.P. Ricks finished with 12 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, and four assists. Kernan Bundy came off the bench to lead a 28-13 Blue Dragon advantage in points off the bench with 10 points and two 3-pointers.

Landon Wagler hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with eight points.

The Blue Dragons shot 39.4 percent from the field (28 of 71), hitting 9 of 26 from 3-point range and 14 of 17 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons had only seven turnover and out-rebounded Coffeyville with a season-high 50 turnovers to the Ravens' 37.

Cris Carroll had 17 points to lead Coffeyville. Jahni Summers had 13 points. The Red Ravens shot 36.5 percent from the field (23 of 63), going only 3 of 20 from distance and 11 of 15 from the foul line.

The Blue Dragons never trailed in the game. A Simon 17-foot jumper with 16:32 to play gave the Dragons an 11-4 lead. Leading by five points, the Dragons went on a quick 8-0 run capped by a Thomas layup after a turnover and a Russell Branch 3-pointer for a 23-10 lead with 9:16 to play in the opening half.

Coffeyville whittled that margin down to 25-19 after a Charles Caporaso basket with 5:55 to play in the half. The Dragons responded with an 8-0 run. Wagler hit a fastbreak 3-pointer and Dre Weathers hammered a transition dunk to up the Dragon lead to 32-19 with 3:43 to play and prompted a Coffeyville timeout.

Thomas scored the final four points of the half for Hutchinson, which led Coffeyville 41-27 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 50-29 lead after a Ricks' 3-point shot with 16:57 to play in the game. Back-to-back Bundy 3-pointers pushed the Hutchinson lead to 26 points at 62-36 with 12:02 to play in the game.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 32-26 all-time against Coffeyville, including 12-8 in games played in Hutchinson. … This was head coach Tommy DeSalme's 70th coaching win at Hutchinson. … This was Blue Dragon all-time win No. 1,918. … The Dragons finished the regular season 13-3 at the Sports Arena. … Valentino Simon now has 29 career collegiate double-doubles. … The Blue Dragons are 19-1 when out-rebounded an opponent.