Broncbusters drop thriller at the Sports Arena

Hutchinson, KS-Hutchinson had seen this movie before.  

Trailing by three in the National Championship Game vs. Northwest Florida State back in April, Hailey Jackson was fouled shooting a 3 with 0.7 seconds remaining. The freshman stepped to the line and drained all three free throws to force overtime, eventually resulting in an 88-80 victory.  

Fast forward more than eight months later and the Blue Dragons got a taste of déjà vu.  

With Garden City clinging to a two-point lead with less than 10 seconds remaining, Jackson raced up the floor only to be fouled in the act from behind by Sierra Driessen. After review, the referees determined that Jackson was behind the 3-point line. Jackson sunk all three free throws, the Broncbusters never got a shot off after a timeout, and the top-ranked Blue Dragons escaped with a stunning, 45-44 victory Wednesday night at the Sports Arena. 

Jackson finished with 25 points and eight rebounds for Hutchinson, which won its 49^th straight game. She was the lone Blue Dragon in double figures.  

Driessen scored 21 points before fouling out in the final seconds for Garden City, which fell to 7-5 overall and 4-3 in conference. Antonicia Moultrie had nine points and eight boards.  

In a game that featured 13 lead changes and eight ties, neither team could pull away. But Priscilla Rose Wemba's offensive rebound and putback with 52 seconds left gave Garden City a 44-42 advantage.  

Following a Hutchinson timeout, Wemba fouled Madi Denison, who then missed a pair of free throws, giving the Broncbusters possession with time winding down and a two-point cushion. On the Broncbusters' ensuing possession, Driessen missed a leaner from inside the paint as the shot clock was about to expire. Jackson grabbed the rebound for Hutchinson and raced the other way. Initially, Driessen let Jackson run past her, but when the sophomore guard caught up with her in the front court, she swiped down in an attempt to distract Jackson as she hoisted a shot. The referee immediately whistled a foul. 

After Jackson's three free throws gave Hutchinson a 45-44 lead with 1.4 seconds remaining, Garden City Coach, Greg Franklin called timeout. His final play call looked superb: misdirection and cross screens, one in particular by Moultrie that pinned Jada Pleasant at the top of the key. It gave Jolie Mantz what appeared to be a great lookon the right wing. But when the ball was inbounded across the floor, Brynne Katcher got a finger on it never allowing Mantz to make a clean catch.  

Upset bid derailed.  

It was a disappointing end to a game that never had any rhythm. There were 39 fouls called, and the two teams were a combined 31-of-96 (33 percent) from the floor. In fact, the Blue Dragons had more free throws made (18) than shots (12).  

A 9-0 run early in the third period gave the Blue Dragons their largest lead of the game, 25-18 with 6:21 to go. They also led by seven going to the fourth.  

Driessen though responded in the final period with a pair of layups, Moultrie maneuvered inside for a basket, and Garden City had a 33-32 lead. After Hutchinson surged back in front, Moultrie finished off a three-point play, and Rose Wemba broke a 42-42 deadlock with a weakside rebound and putback.  

Garden City finished just 1-of-14 from 3 and 5-of-13 from the line. They were outrebounded, 41-32. But they forced 22 Blue Dragon turnovers that turned into 24 points.