2007-08 Barton Women's Basketball News
All State performer Weiser commits to Barton women
The Barton Community College women’s basketball team continued its success in recruiting with the commitment of Kimber Weiser from Oakley High School in Oakley. Weiser will bring a wealth of playing experience to Barton as she was a 4-year starter in high school. Her career has been marked by numerous achievements both individually, as well as from a team standpoint which includes a 2A state championship her junior year.
July 15, 2008
Lawrence Star Signs with Barton women’s basketball
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team’s outstanding season is continuing to pay dividends as they have signed Lawrence High School senior Danielle Bird to a letter of intent. Danielle, a 5-11 wing, led Lawrence High to the 6A State Championship this season, and has decided to bring her talents to Barton to continue her career.
June 27, 2008
McPherson standout signs to play basketball for Barton women
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team has landed one of the top players in the state of Kansas with the announcement that McPherson standout Jordi James has signed a letter of intent to play basketball in 2008-2009. As a senior, James averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3 steals per game for the Bullpups as they claimed the 5A State Championship. She led her team in every statistical category with the exception of rebounds, finishing second. James will help replace 3 sophomores – all starters – from Barton’s 34-4 team last season that took 4th at the NJCAA National Tournament.
June 23, 2008
Barclay takes over as head coach for Barton women’s basketball
For the 2nd time in 2 years the Barton County Community College women’s basketball team will have a new head coach. Thanks to the success of the Cougars in the past few years, the team will have its 3rd coach in 3 seasons, naming Jill Barclay as the school’s 10th head coach. Barclay has taken over the duties pending the approval of the school’s Board of Trustees Tuesday during its June meeting. Barclay replaces Chance Lindley, who led Barton to a 34-4 mark this past season before taking an assistant coaching job at the University of Arizona.
June 16, 2008
Barton Coach Lindley takes assistant job at University of Arizona
After guiding Barton County Community College women’s basketball team to one of its best season ever, head coach Chance Lindley is moving on to become an assistant at the University of Arizona. He will be part of a new coaching staff at the Pac 10 school with Niya Butts taking over the women’s basketball program. Lindley, who coached Barton for just one season, led the Cougars to a 34-4 mark this past year and a 4th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament – both bests in school history.
May 14, 2008
Sturdivant earns 3rd team All-American
Barton County Community College point guard Courtney Sturdivant has been named 3rd Team All-American by the NJCAA for her play last season in helping the Barton women’s basketball to the NJCAA National Tournament. Sturdivant helped the Cougars to a 4th place finish at the National Tournament after capturing the Region VI and Jayhawk West titles.
April 15, 2008
Barton takes 4th place at NJCAA Tournament
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team finished 4th at the NJCAA National Tournament, losing in a thrilling contest to Arkansas-Fort Smith in the 3rd place game at the Bicentennial Center Saturday. The Cougars lost 81-79 in overtime to the Lions to finish their season at 34-4. Fort Smith ends its season with a 34-2 record. Freshman guard Kristine Silaraja poured in 38 points for the 3rd most points ever for a player in a game at Barton. It is the highest Cougar total of any individual at the NJCAA Tournament. The Cougars finished the season tied for the most win in school history with those 34 wins as well as ending with highest finish at the NJCAA in school history, matching the efforts of the 1981 and 1990 teams. Gulf Coast (Fla) won the NJCAA Championship with a 62-61 win over Central Arizona.
March 24, 2008
Cougars title hopes end with semifinal loss to No. 1 Central Arizona
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team saw its dreams of a national title come to an end with a loss to the No. 1 team in the nation, Central Arizona. The Cougars were beaten by the top seed in the NJCAA National Tournament, 78-56, at the Bicentennial Center in Salina Friday night. Barton will now play for 3rd place Saturday against Arkansas-Fort Smith. The loss drops the Cougars to 34-3 on the season while Central Arizona improves to 34-0. The Cougars are still in position to record the most wins in school history and captured the highest finish ever at the NJCAA tournament for the school with a win over Fort Smith (33-2) in the 3rd place contest today at 5 pm.
March 22, 2008
Barton moves into NJCAA semifinals with 55-45 win over Southeastern Illinois
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team has reached a spot only two previous Cougar teams have been – the NJCAA National Semifinals. Barton reached that destination with a 55-45 win over Southeastern Illinois Thursday night at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. The Cougars defense shut down the usually good-shooting Falcons en route to the win. Barton will now get the No. 1 ranked team in the NJCAA the No. 1 seed in the tournament when it takes on Central Arizona Friday night at 8 pm in semifinal action. Barton will be looking to reach the finals for the 1st time in school history with a win. The Cougars are now 34-2 on the season while Central Arizona is 33-0. Southeastern Illinois fell to 32-3 with the loss.
March 21, 2008
Barton escapes opening round upset with 64-61 win over Shelton State
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team moved into the quarterfinals of the 2008 NJCAA National Tournament, posting a 64-61 win over Shelton State (Ala) in the opening round at the Bicentennial Center in Salina Tuesday night. Barton build a double digit lead then held on as the 12th seed Shelton State rallied but 5th seeded Barton made the keys plays in the final minutes to avoid the upset. The Cougars will play the winner of Southeastern Illinois/ East Central (Miss) Thursday night at 8 pm in quarterfinal action at the Bicentennial Center. Barton improves to 33-2 with the win and has won 17 straight games to tie the 4th longest streak in school history for a single season. Shelton State moves into the consolation bracket and is now 28-5.
March 19, 2008
Cougars capture Region VI Championship with 52-40 win over Cloud
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team captured its first Region VI title in 8 years Tuesday night with a 52-40 win over Cloud County in the Championship game of the region tournament at Koch Arena in Wichita. The Cougars shut down the Thunderbirds for the opening 20 minutes then held off a Cloud rally in the 2nd half to win the Region VI Championship and earn the right to keep playing. Next stop for the Cougars will be the NJCAA National Tournament in Salina starting Tuesday. Seeds and game time for the tournament will be announced later today. The Cougars are now 32-2 and just two 2 wins from tying the school record for wins in a season at 34.
March 12, 2008
Barton receives No. 5 seed; plays Shelton State to open NJCAA Tournament
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team was rewarded with the No. 5 seed for the upcoming NJCAA National Championship tournament in Salina. The Cougars, winners’ of the Region VI Tournament to qualify for the event, are 32-2 on the season. Barton will open play with the prime time game Tuesday night, taking on Shelton State (Ala) at 8:15 at the Bicentennial Center. It will be the last of 6 games playing during the opening day. Shelton State will bring a 28-4 mark into the tournament as winners of Region 22.
March 12, 2008
Barton moves into semifinal with 20-point win over Labette
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team moved into the Region VI semifinals with an impressive 72-52 win over Labette Saturday evening at Koch Arena in Wichita. It’s was Barton’s 2nd straight double figure win in the Region VI tournament, putting the Cougars just 2 wins away from the Region VI title and a trip the NJCAA National Tournament for the 1st time in 8 years. In the process Saturday, Ipek Turkyilmaz became the school’s single season record holder in 3-pointers, hitting 3 Saturday to give her 83 on the season, besting the mark of 81 held by Corey Norman since 1994. The Cougars will get another Jayhawk East team in the semifinals, taking on Independence, who tied for the East title and earned the No. 2 seed for the Region VI tournament. The two will tangle today at 3 pm.
March 10, 2008
Cougars have easy time in opening round of Region VI play; beat Neosho 104-23
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team breezed through its opening round of the Region VI Tournament Wednesday night with a resounding 104-23 win over Neosho. Barton, the top seed from the West and ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA went on a 19-0 early in the game and were never challenged as the Cougars equaled their biggest win this year in the 81-point win. The Cougars will take their 29-2 record into the quarterfinal against another 25-win team in Labette. Labette (25-6) spent much of the season ranked in the Top 25 but fell out late in the year. The two teams will battle at 7 pm Saturday at Koch Arena in Wichita. It will be the final quarterfinal game of the tournament for the women.
March 06, 2008
Barton wraps up outright Jayhawk West title with win at Colby
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team checked a goal off Wednesday night, wrapping up the school’s 1st Jayhawk West Championship since 1999. The Cougars put the finished touches on it with a sluggish 54-38 win over Colby in the Community Building. The win gave Barton the outright title with a 14-2 West record. Barton had already clinched a share of the title Saturday. The Cougars, ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA, conclude their regular season with a 28-2 mark – the most wins ever during the regular season at Barton. The most wins all-time is 34 on 2 occasions. Colby fell to 6-9 in the West and 11-18 overall. Barton will have Saturday off before returning for post season play Wednesday. The Cougars will open Region VI action by hosting Neosho at 6 pm. Neosho is the 8th seed from the West and is 4-25 on the year with 1 game to play. If Barton wins that contest, the Cougars will play at 7 pm Saturday at Koch Arena in Wichita.
February 28, 2008
Cougars secure share of West title; wrap up top West seed in Region VI
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team ended a 9-year drought on Jayhawk West titles, securing at least a share of the title Saturday night in a 59-42 win over Hutchinson at the Barton Gym. It is the 1st West title for the Cougars since 1999. Last season Barton finished 15-1 in the West, tied for the best record but were ineligible for the West title. The Cougars are now 13-2 in the West and 27-2 overall. Hutch fell to 10-4 and 21-7. The Cougars will conclude their regular season slate at Colby Wednesday night. A win over the 6-8 Trojans would give Barton the West title outright. Barton also locked up the top seed from the West in the Region VI playoffs. Barton will more than likely host Neosho in 1st round action at the Barton Gym March 5.
February 24, 2008