Cougars run winning streak to 13; Coach Campbell earns win No. 600

Cougars run winning streak to 13; Coach Campbell earns win No. 600
The number of wins Coach Soupy Campbell has at Barton County Community College may just number 14 in his inaugural season, but that was just the number he needed to achieve career win No. 600. He did that Wednesday night in Pratt as the Cougars held off a late Beaver rally for a 73-66 Jayhawk West win. The win moved the Cougars to 14-2 on the season and 2-0 in West play.

Highlights
Barton gradually pulled away from the Beavers from the outset, building a 23-9 with 8 minutes left in the first half as the Cougar defense shut down the Pratt offense. The Cougars continued to build the lead, reaching 19 points at one point before going to the locker room on top 42-26. Barton hit 55 percent of its 1st half shots, including a 4-of-8 effort behind the 3-point line. Pratt, meanwhile, hit just 30 percent and was 1-of-9 behind the arc.

The 2nd half was much the same as the Cougars pushed the lead to 28 points at one time, leading 60-32 with just less than 11 minutes to play in the game. The Cougars still held a 27-point lead, 65-38, with 7 minutes to play. It was at that point the Beavers began to rally behind sophomore guard Tony Bennett. Pratt cut the margin all the way 6 points when Bennett made 1-of-2 free throws with 1:08 to play.

A pair of Justin Rose free throws and some good defense by the Cougars on the next two Pratt possessions allowed the Cougars to hold off the Pratt rally and win their 13th straight – the longest winning streak for Barton since the since the 1999-2000 season.

Barton put four players in double figures led by Rose with 13 points. He was followed by JP Batista, Aubrey Bruner and Rone Smith all with 12 points. Batista also grabbed 13 rebounds for his 5th double-double this year. Bruner handed out 6 assists, snagged 3 steals and committed just 1 turnover from his point guard spot. Bennett, shutdown for most of the contest, ended with 24 points to lead Pratt.

For Campbell, already in the NJCAA Hall of Fame, it was a win to remember. The 25-year coaching veteran amassed a majority of his win during his 13-year tenure at Western Nebraska, compiling a 355-105 record at the school in Scottsbluff. Campbell earned 130 wins at New Mexico Military, 80 wins at Southern Idaho, and 21 wins at an NAIA school in Pennsylvania – the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
Jan. 10 – vs Garden City (Jayhawk West contest at the Barton County Gym)

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