Cougars lose at Hutch; finish at home Wednesday against Colby

Cougars lose at Hutch; finish at home Wednesday against Colby
The Barton County Community College men's basketball team did not have a fun night at Hutchinson Saturday, losing its Jayhawk West tilt to the Blue Dragons by its largest margin of defeat this season. Hutchinson won the contest 84-71, handing Barton its 1st double digit loss of the season in the process. The Cougars fell to 9-6 in the West and 23-6 overall this season. Hutchinson is now 7-7 in the West and 20-8 overall. Barton will conclude the regular season portion of the schedule Wednesday when Colby pays a visit to the Barton Gym. The Cougars need a win over the Trojans (5-23, 1-13) in order to get a home playoff spot. The win would not assure Barton a home spot without some other things taking place over the next two playing dates in the conference but it would put the Cougars in a very good position to host in the opening round of the Region VI tournament.

Highlights
The Cougars jumped out to an early lead on the Blue Dragons, grabbing a 10-4 lead on Hutchinson, capped by an Ivan Evans fast break dunk 4 minutes into the contest. But that would be the end of the highlights for the Cougars during the night.

Hutchinson answered with a 9-2 run to take a 13-12 lead on the Cougars. Barton would lead again briefly at 14-13 but Hutch followed with a 7-0 run and pushed the lead to 29-19 with 8 minutes left in the opening half. Barton would the lead to 5 at one point and trailed 39-32 after an Ivan Evans 3-pointer with 4:36 left in the half but then things got out of hand for Barton. Hutch reeled off the final 10 points of the half as the Cougars went scoreless over the final 4:36 and the Blue Dragons took a 49-32 lead halftime. Hutch lead by 20 most of the 2nd half on the way to the win.

Barton was led by Chris Jackson, who came off the bench to score 19 points. It was his 3rd straight double digit output and this 4th in the last 5 games. Thiago Cordeiro added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Omar Johnson scored in double figures for the 28th time in 29 games, tossing in 13. Matt Green paced Barton with 6 assists and Cordeiro blocked 8 shots. Nate Brumfield led 4 Hutch players in double figures with 20.

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

Next
Wed, Feb 28 – v Colby, 8 pm (Jayhawk West contest at the Barton Gym in Great Bend)

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Check out Barton County Basketball Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports