Lady Dragons post Rout in Region VI opener

LADY DRAGONS POST HISTORICAL ROUT IN REGION VI OPENER

The No. 3-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team completed its fifth-straight undefeated home season and opened the 2014 Region VI Tournament with a record blowout of the Allen Red Devils on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Arena.

Five players scored in double figures and the Lady Dragons shot a season-high 65.3 percent as Hutchinson cruised to a 105-33 opening-round victory over the Red Devils. Hutchinson (29-0) will play Independence in the Region VI quarterfinals on Wednesday at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. Official game times will be determined on Sunday.

The 72-point margin of victory is the largest in Hutchinson's 79-game Region VI history that dates back to 1975. The blowout is the fifth largest in Lady Dragon history.

The Lady Dragons reached the 100-point mark for the fifth time this season. The 105 points scored tied for the fifth most in HCC history, trying a 2009 game against the McPherson College Junior Varsity.

Hutchinson won its 30th consecutive game dating back to last year's national tournament consolation game. HCC won its 99th straight game on their home court. This was HCC's seventh all-time undefeated home season.

The Lady Dragons defensively overwhelmed Allen (7-23), holding the Red Devils to a season-low offensive total and 23.4 percent shooting. The Red Devils turned the ball over 30 times from which HCC produced 39 points.

Offensively, plenty of transition hoops from those turnovers helped Hutchinson hit 41 of 63 total shots. HCC was 6 of 13 from 3-point range and 17 of 26 from the free-throw line.

Sophomore Jamie Patrick scored 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting to lead HCC. Moving within 10 points of No. 3 on Hutch's career scoring chart, Patrick jumped into seventh place on the single-season scoring list with 518 points.

Freshman Kalani Purcell flirted with a double-double finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Purcell is now alone in second place on the single-season steals list with 108 and she jumped into third on the single-season rebound list with 294.

Sophomore Jen'von'Ta Hill and freshman Shakira Harding finished with 13 points and sophomore Briana Starks had 10 points. Hill became the third Lady Dragon in history to reach 300 career assists (301).

All 11 Lady Dragons to play in the game scored.

The Lady Dragons out-rebounded Allen 42-23. HCC had 27 assists and 24 steals. The Lady Dragons turned the ball over 11 times.

Kylie Molisee led the Red Devils with 13 points. Allen hit just 11 of 47 shots, hitting 4 of 13 3-pointers and 7 of 10 from the foul line.

After falling behind 4-1, HCC head coach John Ontjes took a 30-second timeout to send a message to his sluggish-looking team. The Lady Dragons got the message.

Picking up the defensive intensity, Hutchinson quickly assumed full control of the game going on an 18-1 run over a 4-minute span to lead 19-5 with 13:24 to go after back-to-back Patrick baskets. Leading 26-11 at the 9:45 mark, a 15-0 run pushed the lead to 39-11 with 4:10 left after two Hill free throws. HCC then closed the half on a 12-1 run to lead 54-14 at intermission.

After the Ontjes timeout, Hutchinson outscored Allen 53-10 over the final 17:29 of the opening half. HCC hit 23 of 37 field-goal attempts (62.2 percent), holding the Devils to 5 of 18 shooting (27.8 percent).

A Rebecca Fisher 3-pointer at the 17:11 mark of the second half trimmed the Lady Dragon lead to 60-19. Hutch then held the Red Devils scoreless for the next 8 minutes, 59 seconds. Hutch scored 23 unanswered points over that stretch and led 83-19 with 8:29 to go after a Jessica Daughhetee free throw.

HCC's largest lead of the game came at 103-27 (76 points). The Lady Dragons were even better statistically in the final 20 minutes hitting 18 of 26 shots (69.2 percent). Allen was 6 of 29 from the field in the second half. (20.9 percent). HCC outscored Allen 51-19 in the second half.

GAME NOTES - Hutchinson is now 47-32 all-time in Region VI games, including 28-9 in opening-round matchups. … HCC is 23-2 all-time vs. Allen, including 3-0 in Region VI meetings. … HCC head coach John Ontjes won his 215th game at Hutchinson. … The 2014 HCC sophomores won their 65th game. … Jamie Patrick ties Jamie Weaver for No. 8 on the single-season field-goal list with 191. … HCC is 12-0 when shooting 50 percent. … This was the 17th game this season that HCC held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting. … Freshman Chelsea Dewey had a season-high six assists.