SALINA, Kansas – If the drive up K-61 and I-135 weren’t enough for the idea that the Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team was at the NJCAA Women’s National Tournament, once the Lady Dragons walked onto the Bicentennial Center floor, it was set in stone.
“It really didn’t feel like we were (at nationals) until we got here,” HCC freshman all-conference player Heather Robben said after the team’s official shoot-around on Monday. “I’m a little nervous, but it’s exciting to be here.”
The Lady Dragons broke a 32-year national tournament drought on March 9 with a 53-51 victory over Seward County in the Region VI Tournament championship game.
Hutchinson (30-4) is the seventh overall seed in the 2009 women’s field and will play 10th seed Shelton State (Ala.) at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Bicentennial Center.
“Our kids are ready to play,” HCC head coach John Ontjes said. “They’ve looked forward to this all year long and when you get the opportunity, you want to take full advantage of it. It gives us some extra time to have a few more practices and hopefully play four more games.”
The Lady Dragons started the day with a full practice in Lindsborg because the Sports Arena floor wasn’t available with the NJCAA Men’s Tournament shootaround also going on Monday.
HCC then got onto the Bicentennial Center floor for 30 minutes and went through a light workout with plenty of shooting.
Later on Monday, the team attended the NJCAA Women’s Banquet where former Seward County coach Jim Littell was inducted into the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Since winning the Region VI title, Ontjes has tried to make sure the players enjoy the experience of playing in the national tournament.
“We tried to instill that not everyone gets an opportunity to play at a tournament that we are able to. We told them to enjoy everything,” Ontjes said. “We don’t know what all it entails, but we want to take it all in and have a great experience here.”
“We are trying to enjoy and have fun while it lasts and have fun and win,” Robben said. “It’s going to be a long night. Hopefully I can get some sleep.”
The Lady Dragons will be making just their second appearance in the NJCAA Women’s Tournament. The 1977 Lady Dragons finished fourth in the nation with a 26-2 record.
The 2009 Lady Dragons have established a new record for victories in a season with 30.
