Dragons’ run ends in NJCAA Tournament quarterfinals

By Bailey Terry

The Blue Dragons basketball team played Georgia Highlands in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA at the Sports Arena on March 19 and lost 59-64. Their season ended with a record of 29-7.

DeShawn Freeman, Rocky Mount, N.C., in his final game in his HCC career, had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Bashier Ahmed, Bronx, N.Y., scored 14 points and pulled down five rebounds.

Akbar Hoffman, Newark, N.J., scored nine points, while Austin Budke, Beloit, scored six points.

The first six possessions the Dragons held, they turned the ball over.

Starting off with six turnovers caused Hutch to have to pick up the pace.

At the 15-minute mark, the Dragons finally scored with a dunk by Keanu Pinder, Perth, Australia, 2-3.

Hutch finally got a rhythm going and scored once again with a Freeman layup after a Pinder block, 4-3.

The Dragons didn’t allow Georgia to score for over six minutes, but just couldn’t create a lead.

The Dragons were only ahead 7-3 with just over 13 minutes to play in the half.

The game was tied

The Dragons took the lead after a missed free throw Budke rebounded the ball, made the shot, was fouled, and made the shot.

The score was 21-16 with three minutes to go. Georgia wasn’t going away and tied the game at 21 with just over two minutes to go.

As the game went on, both Hutch and Georgia were leading at one point in the game, but the Dragons tied the game at 23.

Georgia scored at the buzzer to end the half with a lead of 25-23.

When the second half started, the Dragons came out big with four straight points from Ahmed to take the lead 27-25 with 18 minutes to go.

The game continued with the Dragons ahead 35-31, after a series of Dragon fouls, Georgia went on a 9-0 run and took the lead 40-35 with nine minutes to go.

Freeman made a three-point play to help pull Dragons within two points, 38-40.

The Dragons tied the game at 40 with eight minutes to go.

The score was 58-52 with the Dragons behind and Hutch block and steal, but an immediate turnover with just under two minutes to go.

With 50 seconds left in the game, Freeman had another three-point play to get the Dragons close 57-60.

The Dragons couldn’t get within more than three points in the final minute.

The Dragons fell 59-64.

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