Slow start derails Indians at NJCAA Tournament

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Chipola's 19^th appearance at the NJCAA Tournament ended up being a short one due to the blazing shooting of the hometown team on Tuesday night.

Despite a strong comeback, the 6^th seeded Indians were unable to comeback from a 23-3 start, as the #11 seed, Hutchinson Community College moved on to the Quarterfinals with a 78-71 win.

Early long-range barrage hinders the Indians

On the strength of six shots from beyond the three-point arc, the Blue Dragons jumped out to a 23-3 lead with just under ten minutes remaining in the first half.

The Indians would fight back in the remaining ten minutes before the break and managed to outscore Hutchinson 23-14 to cut the deficit to 11.

At the half, Chipola was shooting just 10-of-35 (28.6%) from the floor including just a single three-point basket in ten attempts.

Meanwhile the Blue Dragons shot 39.4% (13 for 34) from the floor and 10-of-22 (45.5%) from long range.

Chipola stayed in the game in the first half by outrebounding the Blue Dragons. At the break, Chipola had 29 boards to Hutchinson's 17. The Indians had 10 offensive boards allowing themselves multiple second chance opportunities.

With twenty minutes left to play, Chipola trailed 37-26. Joshua "Greedy" Williams had 9 at the break followed by Zocko Littleton Jr. with 8.

Comeback comes up short

After a quick miss by the Indians to start the second half, Hutchinson picked up where they left off by hitting a three to open up the scoring.

A.J. Barnes responded with a three, Chipola's second of the night, to cut the deficit back to 11. Barnes would finish with a career high 20 points and 17 rebounds for his first double-double.

With 12 minutes left in the game, Hutchinson guard Landon Wagler hit a three to put the Blue Dragons by 20. Wagler would finish the night as the leading scorer for Hutchinson with 20 points.

Over the next ten minutes of action, Chipola clamped down on defense and began to heat up offensively.

With five minutes left in the game, Greedy Williams made a layup cut the Hutchinson lead down to 10. The Indians' sophomore guard would go on to finish as the game's highest-scorer with 22.

The Indians held the hometown favorite to just one long range bucket during that ten-minute span and even held the Blue Dragons scoreless for a four-minute period to draw within five, 71-66.

However, with 2:13 remaining, the Blue Dragons' Kernan Bundy hit his only bucket of the night, a three-pointer to extend his team's lead back out to eight.

Chipola wasn't finished yet. Barnes answered with his second triple and, after a couple of missed shots from both teams, brought the Indians within three after a put back of a missed three-point shot by the Indians with 27 seconds remaining on the clock. The Indians would get no closer.

The Blue Dragons sealed the game with a pair of free throws and a dunk for the 78-71 win.

Season Highlights

• Chipola finishes the season 29-5. The Indians won their 28^th Panhandle Conference Championship and their 18^th Region VIII/FCSAA State Championship.
• Chipola has advanced to the NJCAA Tournament each of the four seasons under Coach Donnie Tyndall. The Indians are 5-4 at the National Tournament in those four years including a pair of Final Four appearances.
• Coach Tyndall also took St. Catherine's College to the NJCAA Tournament back in 1997, his only other season in junior college basketball.
• Joshua "Greedy" Williams was named to the All-Conference, All-State, and FCSAA All-Tournament First Teams. He was also named the Panhandle Conference's Co-Player of the Year and the Region VIII/FCSAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
• Jerald Colonel was named to the All-Conference, All-State, and FCSAA All-Tournament First Teams.
• Antonio Baker Jr. was named to the FCSAA All-Tournament Team.
• Also named to the All-Conference teams this season were: Dontae Walker (First Team); Zocko Littleton Jr. and Idell "JJ" Walton (Second Team).
• Donnie Tyndall was named the Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive year and FCSAA Coach of the Year for the third time in four years.

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