Blue Dragons to host Allen Co.

GAME 16 - No. 13 Hutchinson (13-2) vs. Allen (10-5)

Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9), KWBW-AM/FM (1450/89.5) - Glen Grunwald (PBP); Rusty Hilst (Analysis), 6:50 p.m.

Internet Video, Audio, Live Stats: www.bluedragonsports.com, 6:50 p.m.

Twitter: @bluedragonsport

Tickets: Reserved $7; General Admission - $5

Promotion: $1 Hot Dog Night

BLUE DRAGONS GET BACK TO BUSINESS, FACE ALLEN IN FINAL NON-CONFERENCE TILT

The last time the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team was on the court, Kadeem Allen hit a game-winning shot in the lane in the final seconds of an 84-83 victory over Hill College on Dec. 14.

Now, some 22 days later, it's back to work for the 13th-ranked Blue Dragons as they close out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a rematch against the Allen Red Devils.

Tipoff on Wednesday is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Sports Arena. Dollar Hot Dogs will be on sale for Wednesday's game.

The Blue Dragons have won six games in a row. The streak started when Hutchinson travel to and defeated Allen 90-69 on Nov. 26.

Since then, the Blue Dragons have improved dramatically defensively. After a stretch of allowing 80 or more points in a school-record-tying seven games, HCC has allowed 73.3 points per game during the winning streak.

For the Red Devils' part, they have won 4 of 5 since dropping that 21-point decision to the Blue Dragons. Allen has had the same 22-day layoff as the Blue Dragons.

The Devils have been showing a potent offense during their surge, averaging 84.0 points per game. Allen defeated Johnson County 96-88 on Dec. 14 in Overland Park in its last game played.

Allen led the Blue Dragons in the first meeting with 33 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, going 21 of 24 from the free-throw line. Tafari Whittingham added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Courtney Stockard led three Red Devils in double figures with 17 points.

HCC led 37-30 at halftime and outscored Allen 53-39 in the second half.

Hutchinson will open Jayhawk West play on Saturday against Colby.

About the 2013-14 Blue Dragons

+ The Blue Dragons are No. 2 in the Jayhawk West in scoring average at 88.3 points per game. HCC has scored 80 or more points in 11 of 15 games and have reached the 100-point mark three times this season. The Blue Dragons are No. 4 in field-goal percentage (48.0 percent). HCC ranks last of eight teams in 3-point percentage at 28.0 percent, but is second in free-throw percentage at 69.9 percent.

+ The Dragons have improved defensively over the last six games. HCC still ranks last in the Jayhawk West in defensive scoring average (80.5 ppg.), seventh in field-goal defense (41.5 percent) and leads in the 3-point defense (30.5 percent).

+ All-American Kadeem Allen is leading the Jayhawk West and is second in the nation in scoring at 27.6 points per game. He is shooting 45.0 percent overall, 31.5 percent from 3-point range and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. He is averaging 7.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists (2nd in the Jayhawk West) and 2.1 steals per game (4th in the Jayhawk West).

+ Second-leading scorer DeShawn Freeman is close to returning from a first-semester injury. He has now missed eight games. Freeman was averaging 17.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the field.

+ Third-leading scorer Darrick Wood might be near a return as well after a first-semester injury. He was averaging 11.4 points per game. Wood has missed six games.

+ Sophomore Tafari Whittingham is HCC's leading rebounder with 8.27 boards per game, which ranks fourth in the Jayhawk West. He is averaging 9.5 points per game, but is shooting only 41.1 percent from the field. Whittingham has three double-doubles this season.

+ Sophomore Coreantae DeBerry continues to produce in the paint. DeBerry is now averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 62.0 percent, which ranks sixth in the Jayhawk West. DeBerry is also hitting 79.2 percent of his free throws, which leads the Jayhawk West.

+ Sophomore Nathan Jackson has scored in double figures in 9 of 15 games, including the last four games. He is averaging 10.3 points while shooting 60.6 percent from the floor (seventh in the Jayhawk West). Jackson is also averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Over his last four games, Jackson is averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 63.9 percent.

+ The Blue Dragons have been hot and cold in the rebounding department this season. They have been out-rebounded in 5 of 15 games. HCC is fourth in the Jayhawk West in rebounding at 44.3 boards per game. The Dragons allow 40.1 boards per contest.

+ HCC turns the ball over 16.0 times per game and forces 15.0 takeaways per game.

+ The Dragons are averaging 17.8 assists per game, which ranks second in the West.

+ HCC is second in the league in blocked shots with 5.0 per game or 75 total for the season.

Scouting Allen

+ Since losing to Hutchinson 90-69 on Nov. 28 in Iola, the Red Devils have won 4 of their last 5. The only loss was a 78-77 home loss to NEO on Nov. 12.

+ Four of Allen's five losses have come to Jayhawk West opponents - Barton, Dodge City, Pratt and Hutchinson. Allen is 0-4 vs. the Jayhawk West this season.

+ After going through several seasons struggling to score consistently, the Red Devils have been solid on the offensive end this season. Allen is third in the Jayhawk East in scoring average at 84.0 points per game. The Red Devils are shooting 46.5 percent overall (fifth in the East) and are fifth in 3-point percentage (34.2 percent). Allen is shooting 64.7 percent from the foul line (seventh in the East).

+ Allen likes to pull the trigger from deep, average 7.2 made 3-pointers per game per. The Devils have shot a league-high 316 times from behind the arc (21.1 attempts per game). Cody Sluder is fifth in the Jayhawk East in 3-point percentage (44.8 percent). Josh Sweet is ninth (39.2 percent). Alex Miller is fourth in made 3-pointers with 2.33 per game.

+ The Red Devils rank fourth of eight teams in the Jayhawk East in scoring defense at 74.5 points allowed per game. The Devils allow 41.8 percent from the field overall (third in the East) and 32.9 percent from 3-point range (seventh in the East).

+ Four players average in double figures for Allen led by forward Raheem Tyner, who has a team-high 14.3 point-per-game scoring average. He also averages a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game and shoots 54.4 percent from the field. Tyler is third in the East in rebounding.

+ Courtney Stockard is second in scoring at 11.5 points per game. He is third on the team with 19 3-pointers this season (33.9 percent from deep).

+ Alex Miller averages 11.4 points per game with a team-high 28 3-pointers and a 36.4 percent efficiency from deep. His 2.33 makes are fourth in the Jayhawk East.

+ Tyrone Jones averages 11.1 points, while shooting 52.0 percent from the field.

+ Allen averages 38.0 rebounds per contest, 13.1 offensive boards, and allows 34.9 per game. Cody Sluder is ninth in the Jayhawk East at 5.5 rebounds per game.

+ Tray Fountain is third in the Jayhawk East with 4.3 assists per game. Allen averages 13.3 per contest.

+ The Devils average 13.9 turnovers, while getting 15.1 takeaways per game.

+ Allen averages 5.6 blocks per game. Tyrone Jones (1.3), Cody Sluder (1.2) and Courtney Stockard (1.1) all average better than a block per game individually.

Series history vs. Allen

This will be the 42nd meeting overall and second this season between Hutchinson and Allen in a series that began in 1929.

Hutchinson has won 10 games in a row and leads the overall series 34-7. The Dragons are 14-7 in games at Hutchinson and are 12-0 in games played in Iola.

This is the seventh consecutive season that Hutchinson and Allen have played a home-and-home series.

The Red Devils haven't won a game in the series since 2008, a 72-70 victory at the Sports Arena.

Allen is the only team to come into the Sports Arena and defeat Hutchinson in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament, doing so in 2006, a 60-56 victory under Mike Hayes.