Men clinch Jayhawk West
Blue Dragons sweep last two regular season games to capture conference crown
By Rusty Whitcher
Sports Editor

 
It’s been a long time coming for the Hutchinson Community College basketball team.

Sixteen years to be exact. HCC clinched their first undisputed Jayhawk West Conference title since 1988 with an 85-67 blowout of Butler County Community College on Feb. 25.

HCC jumped all over Butler in the early going 20-7, but the Grizzlies were able to cut the lead to 26-19.  The Blue Dragons were able to pull away for a 43-31 halftime lead.

Butler County cut the lead to 57-47 with 12:49 left in the game.  HCC roared to life with an 18-2 run that gave the Dragons a 75-49 lead. 

Sophomores Aaron Pettway and Kevin Jolley each had 11 points.  Freshmen Durrall Peterson dumped in 10, Naquan Jackson had eight and Jeff Pruitt added seven. 

After wrapping up the conference crown, HCC traveled to Seward County Community College on Feb. 28 to battle with the Saints in the last regular season game before the Region VI tournament. 

A big run gave HCC a 33-19 halftime lead.  The second half was much of the same as HCC was able to hold the lead right around 20 points for the game.

Sophomore Brandon Gary led the charge with 19 points and Pettway added 10 points. HCC also had a 57-28 rebounding edge that helped seal the victory.