Barton holds off Butler rally to pick up road win in West play

Barton holds off Butler rally to pick up road win in West play
The Barton County Community College men's basketball team once again built a nice lead and once again watched as the opponents came roaring back. This time – as has not been the case in previous games – the Cougars held off Butler County to earn a 92-80 road win in Jayhawk West play. Barton earned that win at the Power Plant in El Dorado Saturday night to move to 2-4 in the West and 13-5 overall. Butler is also 2-4 in the West and 7-12 overall. The Cougars will go after their 3rd road win in the conference Wednesday when they travel to Hutchinson to take on the West leading Blue Dragons. Hutch is the only unbeaten team in the West at 5-0. Tip will be 7:30 pm at the Sports Arena.

Highlights
It was a game the Cougars never trailed and were only tied twice – 2-2 and 21-21. Following that 21-all tie, the Cougars closed out the 1st half in grand style, outscoring Butler 30-13 to take a 51-34 lead to halftime.

Barton pushed the lead 19 in the 2nd half 2nd half at 73-54 with 11 minutes to play. It is a position the Cougars have been in before – a big lead midway through the 2nd half. And it is a position Barton has blown leads from more than once this year.

It looked like that might happen again as the Grizzlies followed with a 7-0 run to make it 73-61 and got it to 76-65 with 7 minutes to play. Butler continued to whittle at the Barton lead, getting to just 6 points at 80-74 with 4 minutes to play. This time, though, Barton was not going to fold. The Cougars hit 4-for-4 at the free throw line over the next couple of minutes to get the lead to 84-76. the closest Butler got was 84-79 with 1:22 to play but Barton hit 4-of-5 free throws down the stretch to go with a couple of baskets to pull away to the 12-point win.

Four Cougars his double figures with Qa'rraan Calhoun leading the way with 24 and Javon Parris close behind at 20. Calhoun was 11-of-17 from the floor – 7-of-8 in the 1st half – while Parris knocked down 10-of-11 free throws. Chip Steven added 13 and Chris Jackson 11 for the Cougars. Calhoun recorded a 13 rebounds for a double-double while Steven had 8 assists and Calhoun 3 steals. Barton hit 54 percent from the floor in the win. Logan Stutz led Butler with 23.

Barton will now travel to Hutchinson for its 5th road game in 7 West contests. Hutch leads the West at 5-0 and is the only unbeaten remaining in the West.

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

Next 
Wed Jan 23 – at Hutchinson, 7:30 pm (Jayhawk West contest at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson)

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