Hutch Gets Humbled By The Tigers In Ark City
(January 29, 2022) Arkansas City, KS – More surprises on Saturday, including this game in SE Kansas between #10 Hutchinson CC and the hosts, Cowley College. Narrowly beating the Tigers at the Sports Arena on Dec. 1, the Blue Dragons were planning to invade Ark City to sweep Cowley, Hutch HC Tommy DeSalme’s former team.
However, in a season which has been far from normal, but a different abnormal from the two previous covid altered seasons. This one has more parity and full of unexpected results. So, in the year of “anything can happen and usually does,” the usually does, did it again.
Cowley shot 50% from the field (47% of threes) for the game, got big second half production from Raishaun Brown (all of his sixteen points and 5 of his 7 rebounds) and Clarence King (11 of his 21 points and all six of his rebounds), then held off Hutch down the stretch to record the win 83-80.
The Tigers jumped on the Dragons early, climbing to a 15 point lead at the 12:00 minute mark. Hutch clamped down and made some shots putting together a 24-4 run to go up five less than six minutes later.
Cowley regrouped, made a good run to close out the first half and went into the locker room up 45-40.
The remainder of the game was an open door policy. Each team had their opportunities, but Cowley made more plays at the end to claim victory. After an Emmanuel Austin FT put the Tigers up 83-80 with :07.4 showing on the game clock, Cowley survived an errant Angelo Stuart three ball and an offensive rebound by Kobe Campbell who sprinted back to the 3 point line. but time expired before any damage could be done.
Cowley runs their record to 12-10, 8-8 in the Jayhawk. In addition to Brown and King (sounds like a name of a law firm) with strong outings, Cowley was aided by Mekhi Cameron who posted 14 points and Kennedy Willis with 11. Brown led the team with 5 dishes.
Hutch, losers of three of their last five, falls to 18-4, 12-4, and find themselves 2nd in the KJCAA standings, a game behind Dodge City CC (13-3). Garden City, the hottest team in the Conference, right now (W’s in nine straight) is nipping at their heels at 11-5.
The Dragons were led by Kobe Campbell with 23 points, eight boards. Jacquez Yow bagged 15 plus 7 rebounds. Angelo Stuart, the team’s leading scorer at 21.2 ppg, was held to 8 points on 2 of 6 from the floor.
“We knew it was either Kobe or Angelo going to make the play (take the last shot). I thought we did a great job on Angelo, he only had six shots, had four (points) at half, one of the best players in the conference and I really challenged the guys, hey, we’ve let guards just go off on us and get clean looks, and this has to be the night we don’t do that,” said a happy Cowley HC Donnie Jackson. “Tonight I thought we stepped up to the challenge on him,” Jackson added.
Looking at the box score, one would easily conclude that Hutch won the game. They dominated the boards (44-30), and committed seven fewer turnovers, but their cold shooting (39% on 28 of 71), especially from distance (5 for 29, 17%), was not helpful to their cause. The Blue Dragons live and die by the threes. HCC ranks 4th nationally in 3FG attempts (over 31 per game) and fourteenth in made 3-pointers at 9.5 per game.
After four straight home games, Hutchinson, including Saturday’s game, will now have back to back road trips. They travel to the Power Plant in El Dorado Wednesday to tackle Butler Co. Cowley ventures to Cloud Co. on Monday.
