
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
INDEPENDENCE – Jaquez Thornton and Isaiah Jackson both posted double-doubles to lead the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team Saturday.
But the Independence Pirates had a strong final five minutes, closing the game with a 14-8 run to defeat the Blue Dragons 103-97 at the ICC Fieldhouse.
The Blue Dragons fell to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the KJCCC. Hutchinson plays host to Coffeyville at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Independence is now 5-4 overall (1-2 KJCCC).
Thornton had his first career double-double with 22 points and a career-high-tying 10 assists. Thornton was 7 of 19 shooting and 7 of 10 from the free-throw line. He added five rebounds.
Jackson posted his first double-double as a Blue Dragon and the second of his career with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson was 9 of 12 shooting, the nine field goals tied a career high.
The Blue Dragons shot 52.1 percent for the game (38 of 73) and dished out a season-high 25 assists.
The Pirates shot an opponent-high 56.1 percent to snap a 21-game losing streak to Hutchinson.
The Blue Dragons led 89-86 after a Jackson bucket with 6:22 to play in the second half. Independence then went on a 14-3 run over the next 5:20 to build a 100-92 lead on a Chianti Tramble free throw with 1:02 left.
Bobby Cannon had 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting, including two 3-pointers. He just missed a double-double with nine rebounds and he had three blocked shots. Khalil Arnold has his second-straight game in double figures with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting. D.J. Dudley had eight points and six assists.
The Dragons were 4 of 14 from 3-point range and 17 of 27 from the foul line. Hutchinson had a 37-36 rebounding advantage.
Tramble hit three 3-pointers and finished with 22 points to lead the Pirates. Chris Dockery had 19 points.
The Pirates, who shot 69.0 percent in the first half, finished shooting 32 of 57 from the floor, including 7 of 21 from 3-point range and had an opponent-high 32 free throws in 46 attempts. The Pirates had 11 turnovers.
The Blue Dragons trailed 13-7 early twice more, but tied the game at 28-28 on a Bo Aldridge basket with 9:58 left in the first half. Then tied at 30-all, Independence went on a 7-0 run and trailed 37-30 with 8:37 left in the half.
Two Thornton free throws pulled the Dragons within 40-36 with 7:11 left, but the Pirates surged again, this time with an 11-2 run to build a 51-38 lead after a Dockery 3-pointer with 4:34 left in the half.
The deficit grew to 14 points at 60-46, but the Dragons closed the half on a 7-1 run over the final 51 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 61-53 on a Mikhail Abdul-Hamid second-chance basket with 1 second to play.
The Blue Dragons quickly erased that deficit with a 17-5 run and took a 70-68 lead on a Jackson basket with 14:55 to play in the second half. A Cannon 3-pointer upped the lead to 80-75 with 11:46 to go. Jackson scored with 10:45 to go for an 82-75 Dragon lead.
Independence rallied to knot the score at 86, but the Dragons toon an 89-86 lead with 6:22 to play after a Jackson bucket. The Pirates then went on a 14-3 run to lead 100-92 with 38 seconds left. The Dragons got as a close as five points.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 57-24 all-time against Independence. … D.J. Dudley had his third game with six or more assists. … Jaquez Thornton had his third game or 20 or more points. … Independence had opponent highs of points scored (103), points in a half (61) and field-goal percentage (56.1 percent).