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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Lone Peak standout Conner Toolson poured in 28 points, including five 3-pointers, to lift No. 13 Salt Lake Community College to a 74-64 win Saturday over No. 7 Hutchinson Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association national title game.
Utah Valley commit Toolson, who also had four rebounds and two steals, earned tournament most valuable player honors.
Former American Fork standout Tyler Rawson finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Bruins (32-8). Teammate Gibson Johnson totaled nine points and four rebounds, and Australia native Tad Dufelmeier and former Kearns High standout Bushman Ebet each supplied six for Salt Lake.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” said SLCC coach Todd Phillips, who was named coach of the tournament. “They competed every game. These guys went so solid through the tournament.
“This means a ton to our school, to our organization and our program. We’re really excited to go home.”
Best team in nation! So proud of these guys. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AksfUMUFRd
— Deneece (@SLCCHuftalin) March 20, 2016
The Bruins, who won their second national title in program history and first since 2009, opened the game with an 8-0 run on Rawson’s layup less than four minutes into the game. Toolson tipped in a loose ball to give SLCC a 13-5 lead at the 13:39 mark of the first half.
The Bruins' lead swelled to 42-27 at halftime, and then they opened the second half on a 7-3 run to go up 49-31 on Christian Musoko’s dunk with 16:43 left to play.
“It’s been our goal this entire tournament to come out hot and really jump on teams,” Rawson said. “It’s just a part of what we do, and it’s how we ended up winning the game. It was really the difference.”
Toolson scored nine points in the second half and gave SLCC a 56-44 lead on a triple from the corner with just over nine minutes left.
The Blue Dragons (32-6) cut the lead to nine points, 66-60, on Samajae Haynes-Jones’ 3-point play with 3:33 left in the game. Haynes-Jones then drove to the rim and pulled Hutchinson within four points, 66-62 with just over three minutes to play. But Hutchinson could get no closer.
Bashir Ahmed led the Blue Dragons with 22 points, and Haynes-Jones finished with 11 points and four rebounds for Hutchinson, which shot just 35.5 percent from the field.
Dufelmeier took the national sportsmanship award, and joined Rawson on the All-Tournament team.
