Barton men hold off Garden City, Monday showdown versus Butler looms

The Barton Community College men's basketball team picked up a big Jayhawk Conference road win Saturday night defeating Garden City Community College 73-68 at the Perryman Athletic Conference.  The win moved the Cougars into sole possession of second place in the West standings at 8-3 and 20-5 overall while dropping the Broncbusters to 3-8 and 14-11.   Getting the first of three games in five days under their belt, Barton prepares for a big showdown at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Barton Gym with No. 6 ranked and conference leader Butler Community College (9-1, 23-1).  The Cougars' eighteen point second half deficit rally fell short earlier in the conference season as the Grizzlies held on to win 73-71 in El Dorado.  Barton will then conclude the tough stretch in the schedule with a Wednesday road trip to third place and No. 17 ranked Hutchinson Community College. 

Trailing by two at the break, Barton built a ten point second half lead but had to continuously hold off the Broncbusters.   Clinging to only a two point lead with two minutes remaining, Jalin Barnes knocked down the big shot proving the difference stepping just inside the arc for a contested jumper as the shot clock wound down.  

Khalil Gracey came off the bench knocking down 5-of-6 from behind the arc, the third time this season with five treys, to lead four Cougars in double figures.  Reigning KJCCC player of the week Ahmad Walker finished with sixteen points pulling down twelve rebounds to post his seventh double-double and fifth in the last eight games.  In addition to the game clinching jumper, Barnes finished with eleven points while Kenny Enoch added ten.

Garden City was paced by Jeremee Bennett's fifteen points as three Broncbusters reached double-digits.  Tyrell Springer dropped thirteen while Richie Spiller provide a spark off the bench with eleven.  Jonathan Bell led a three rebound advantage over the Cougars with a team leading seven.