HUTCHINSON – No. 5 ranked Hutchinson Community College outscored Barton Community College 26-18 in the fourth quarter for a 74-64 Jayhawk Conference basketball victory over the Cougars.

The Cougars connected on an opponent season high 53.7% against Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons countering with 13-of-38 3-pointers and scored 27 points off 22 Barton turnovers.

The Dragons (17-0, 11-0 Jayhawk) placed five players in double figures -- Kiki Smith (17), Bree Hornya (13), Hailey Jackson (12), Journey Armstead (12) and Muggeridge (10). Armstead recorded back-to-back steals that Jackson and Armstead converted for a 66-57 lead.

Barton (12-5, 7-4 Jayhawk) was paced by Quezia Bertoni with 17 points with four assists. Vivian Onugha led the inside game with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Vera Ojenuwa, fouling out with 5:21 left with the Cougars down two, contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of court time.

Second behind Bertoni in the league assist leaders, Grace John distributed a game high seven assists with seven points. Darby Smith came off the bench draining a career high 2-of-2 from long distance with six points. Tatum Boettjer converted 2-of-6 from long distance.

Boettjer's triple and Onugha's 3-point play sparked the Cougars to a 6-point lead. Smith's first trey helped the Cougars to an 8-point lead with 5:41 remaining. Bertoni's triple gave Barton a 7-point lead. The Dragons drilled a trio of 3-pointers for an 18-16 lead.

Onugha's two buckets drew Barton within one in the second period. But turnovers hurt the Cougars as Hutchinson pushed the gap to seven.

Barton scored the final four points to close within 32-28 holding Hutchinson to 37.5%.

Smith's second triple tied the score at 38. Hutchinson drained its 10th three-pointer to regain the lead 48-46 after three periods. Boettjer's final 3-pointer closed the gap to two points with 4:59 remaining.

Hutchinson's 13th 3-pointer regained the momentum. Two Barton turnovers leading to transition layups sealed the Blue Dragon victory for a 9-point advantage.

NOTES Teams have split last eight meetings. Hutchinson has won the last three meetings at the Sports Arena. Hutchinson leads the series 24-23 in Hutchinson. Barton leads the overall series 57-45.

Barton 16 12 18 18 – 64

Hutchinson 18 14 16 26 – 74

BARTON (12-5, 7-4)—Bertoni 6-11 4-4 17, Ojenwa 7-8 2-5 16, Onugha 3-5 6-6 12, Grace John 2-7 2-2 7, Boettger 2-7 0-0 6, Darby Smith 2-2 0-0 6, Vogl 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-41 14-17 64.

HUTCHINSON (17-0, 11-0)—Kiki Smith 7-12 0-0 17, Hornya 3-4 5-5 13, Jackson 4-13 1-2 12, Armstead 4-17 1-2 12, Muggeridge 4-11 0-0 10, Duffey 4-7 0-0 8,  Denison 1-1 0-0 2, Mosley 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 27-66 7-9 74.

3-pointers—BC 6-14 (Smith 2-2, Boettjer 2-6, Bertoni 1-2, John 1-4); HCC 13-38 (Jackson 3-7, Smith 3-7, Armstead 3-13, Muggeridge 2-6, Duffy 0-1, Mosley 0-1). Rebounds—BC 28 (Onugha 8); HCC 30 (Jackson 8). Assists—BC 15 (John 7); HCC 22 (Muggeridge 6). Steals—BC 4 (4 with 1); HCC 12 (Armstead 4). Turnovers—BC 22, HCC 10.

JAYHAWK WOMEN

Hutchinson 11-0 17-0

Dodge City 10-2 16-2

Butler 9-2 15-2

Barton 7-4 12-5

Coffeyville 7-4 12-5

Cloud 6-5 10-6

Garden City 5-6 10-6

Seward 5-6 9-8 

Independence 4-7 10-7

Cowley 4-7 10-7

Pratt 3-8 8-8

Colby 1-10 5-11

NW Tech 0-11 1-14

1-17—Hutchinson 74, Barton 64; Coffeyville 52, Colby 38; Butler 82, Cloud 58; Dodge City 85, Garden City 77; Seward 74, Independence 57; Pratt 87, NW Tech 77