Hutch pulls away from T-Birds, 75-56 

HUTCHINSON — A Hutchinson Community College team that has been on a roll since mid December pulled away in the second half to defeat the Cloud Community Community College Thunderbirds 75-56 Sunday in the Sports Arena.
Hutchinson, now 16-4 overall and 10-4 in Jayhawk Conference play, has won six straight games by an average margin better than 23 points.
Cloud County, which had defeated Hutchinson 75-65 earlier in the season, suffered a second consecutive road loss and is now 12-8 overall and 7-7 in conference play.
“They (Hutchinson) are playing better. They have good players,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. “We have to get positive production from certain people on a regular basis and if we don't it is a struggle.”
Trailing 34-26 at halftime, Cloud County got a basket by Sarah Lawless, a layup by Te Araroa Sopoaga and then a jumper by Lawless to pull within two points, 34-32, in the opening 2:37 of the second half.
Lawless came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points for the Thunderbirds. She was 7 of 10 from the field and also had six rebounds.
“Sarah Lawless was great off the bench for us. She kept us in it the first half,” Erkenbrack said.
Hutchinson, which went the first 3:15 of the third quarter without scoring, took control of the game.
A follow by Kali Howard and a three-point shot by Mya Williams put the Blue Dragons up 39-32.
A basket by Josephine Igherighe pulled Cloud County within five points, 39-34.
Hutchinson extended its lead to 10 points, 46-36.
A jumper by Lawless left the T-Birds trailing 46-38.
Getting three-point baskets by Howard and Journey Armstead, the Blue Dragons scored the final eight points of the third quarter to open up a 54-38 advantage.
Six straight points in the first 2:09 of the fourth period gave Hutchinson a 60-38 cushion.
Cloud County got a jumper by Igherighe and four straight points by Sopoaga to close the gap to 60-44 with just over five minutes to play.
That is as close as the T-Birds would get.
“We are turning it over way too much, and this is at least two games in a row that we have gotten out-rebounded, and we were dominant on the board first semester,” Erkenbrack said. “We have to out-rebound our opponents, we have to be at least somewhat even in turnovers or it is going to be real tough.”
Hutchinson finished with 44 rebounds to 36 for the T-Birds.
Cloud County turned it over 24 times in the game to 14 for the Blue Dragons.
Sopoaga finished with eight points and 11 assists for Cloud County.
Igherighe scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Jessi Brummett also scored eight points for the T-Birds.
Cloud County shot 41 percent (23 of 56) from the field but made just 6 of 13 free throws for 46 percent.
Hutchinson went to the line 29 times and connected on 24 attempts for 83 percent.
Williams led three Blue Dragons in double figures with 23 points. She made 11 of 12 free throws.
Armstead scored 17 points and Howard added 13.
Cloud County, falling behind 9-4 to start the game, used a 9-2 spurt to go up 13-11 on a three-point shot by Lawless with 2:42 to play in the first quarter.
It would be the only lead of the game for the T-Birds.
Scoring seven straight points, the Blue Dragons went on top to stay, 18-13.
Cloud County pulled even at 20-20 early in the second period.
Hutchinson went on a 14-2 run, and led 34-24.
Lawless scored in the final second of the first half, and the T-Birds trailed 34-26.
Cloud County got within two points early in the second half, but it was all Hutchinson after that.
The T-Birds will host Independence Community College at 6 p.m. Wednesday.