CANNON HAS CAREER NIGHT, BUT DRAGONS FALL AT INDEPENDENCE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

INDEPENDENCE – Bobby Cannon poured a career-high 38 points, but the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team saw Independence rally with a strong second half in a KJCCC matchup Tuesday at the Oakes Family Fieldhouse.

Independence shot 72.4 percent in the second half as the Pirates rallied from a four-point first half deficit and defeat the Blue Dragons 88-80.

The Dragons fell to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the KJCCC. Independence improved to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the Jayhawk. The Blue Dragons play host to Seward County at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena.

Cannon's 38-point effort against Independence tied for the 10th-most points in Blue Dragon single-season history. He is the first Blue Dragon to score 38 or more points since Aaron Franklin had 38 points against Pratt in 2023.

Cannon, who had 20 points in the first half, was 16 of 27 from the floor overall, hitting 2 of 6 from 3-point range and 4 of 6 from the foul line. Cannon added five rebounds, two steals and a block.

Anthony Alston was the only other Blue Dragon to score in doble figures, going for 10 points with four rebounds and four assists. Kyrell Shaw and Jonathan Ogunfuye had nine points each, while Lolo Rodolph and Kordell Williams had seven points each.

Rudolph had seven assists and Williams had six assists.

The Blue Dragons shot 47.0 percent (31 of 66) for the game. The Dragons were 6 of 16 from 3-point range and 12 of 19 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Independence 38-32 and had 19 assists, eight blocked shots and five steals. Hutchinson turned the ball over 13 times.

The Pirates were led by David Wilson, who had a team-high 19 points. Trae Lewis added 15 points, while Lonnie Bass Jr., had 10 points.

Overall the Pirates shot 48.4 percent (31 of 64), hitting 8 of 15 from 3-point range and 18 of 21 from the free-throw line. The Pirates had only seven turnovers.

Hutchinson shot 55.6 percent (15 of 27) in the first half, while holding the Pirates to 28.6 percent (10 of 35). The Dragons led by as many as eight points at 11-3 with 14:54 to go in the half. The Dragons led 37-30 lead in the first half, but Lewis hit three free throws with 1.3 seconds left to cut Dragon lead to 37-33 at halftime.

The Dragons had three six-point leads early in the second half at 39-33, 41-35 and 43-37, but the Pirates finally turned things around with a 10-run to led 47-43 with 14:34 to go. Leading the Dragons 51-49, the Pirates used another 7-0 run to put Hutchinson in a 58-49 lead with 11:43 to go in the second half.

Hutchinson went on a 21-12 run to pull within 72-70 on an Alston field goal with 3:58 left. Indy then scored six in a row to take control of the game. The Pirates outscored the Blue Dragons 55-43 in the second half.

GAME NOTES – This was the third-straight loss to Independence. The Dragons are now 57-26 all-time against the Pirates. … The Dragons are 1-2 in league play for the first time since 2005-06. … This was Bobby Cannon's third career 30-point game, the second against Independence. … The Dragons are 3-3 when out-rebounding an opponent. … Over his last four games, Lolo Rudolph is averaging 7.3 assists per game.