Hutch wins, Hutch wins, advances to meet #1 Seed Mineral Area College

In the first game of the 2021 NJCAA Men’s DI national tournament, host and #16 seed Hutchinson CC (19-6) turned a one point game at the intermission into a 95-86 first round victory.

The second half began with Hutch holding 39-38 lead. Then momentum occured. Hutch gradually took control of the game in the first ten minutes of the second stanza, and rebounded their way to the second round and a date with #1 Seed Mineral Area College (MO). The Cardinals are the only undefeated team in the field at (23-0). That game will tip-off Tuesday, April 20, at 2:00 in the Sports Arena

Jaden Okon, 6’4″ SO from Wichita, KS, led six Blue Dragon scorers with double figures, pumping in 16. Josh Baker added 15, with Majok Kuath, Stehpen Gabriel, Isaiah Bujdoso contibuting 12, while Chris Robinson finished with 11. Kuath was the chairman of the boards grabbing a game high 7 rebounds.

Kilgore College, who ends their season at 17-6, had two players in double figures. KJ Jenkins (6’2″ SO from Atlanta, GA) held game high honors with 34. Teammate Da’Sean Nelson (FR) ended up with 29.

Rebounding was the key to the Blue Dragons win as the out-boarded the Rangers 40-29, 23 to 15 in the last twenty minutes. Hutch HC Steve Eck after the win, “we didn’t do anything different in the second half to build the lead except rebound better. And because of controlling the boards, we were able to have more patience on offense and finish possessions.” Eck had announced before the tournament this would be his last season at the helm of the Blue Dragons.

Although short of their teams goal, making the tournament as Mid-South District Champion Head Coach Brian Hoberecht was proud of his team’s accomplishments. “Winning the District with this group was special because of the growth we accomplished over the course of the season. We started 4 freshmen and 1 sophomore and actually, six of our top eight are freshmen.”