Cougars knocked from unbeaten in loss to Independence
No one would expect a team to go undefeated in the rugged Jayhawk Conference but taking a home loss is tough to swallow as the Barton Community College men’s basketball team were knocked off the top perch Saturday evening at the Barton Gym 80-71 to Independence Community College. Trailing by two at the half after shooting below 31% from the field, the Cougars warmed up in second half play but a decisive 12-0 run by the Pirates in the latter stages of the game and thirty-eight points from DaJon Streeter proved the difference in halting the Cougars’ ten game win streak to begin the season. The loss drops Barton to 6-1 in conference play and 10-1 on the season while Independence pics up the second win in Jayhawk play improving to 2-5 and 5-5 on the season. The Cougars will need to put the loss to bed quickly as two more tough conference games are next on the schedule beginning with a Wednesday trip to Dodge City Community College before hosting nationally ranked Hutchinson Community College on Saturday to conclude the pre-Christmas schedule. Game ties set for 7:30 p.m. for both contests.
No one would expect a team to go undefeated in the rugged Jayhawk Conference but taking a home loss is tough to swallow as the Barton Community College men's basketball team were knocked off the top perch Saturday evening at the Barton Gym 80-71 to Independence Community College. Trailing by two at the half after shooting below 31% from the field, the Cougars warmed up in second half play but a decisive 12-0 run by the Pirates in the latter stages of the game and thirty-eight points from DaJon Streeter proved the difference in halting the Cougars' ten game win streak to begin the season. The loss drops Barton to 6-1 in conference play and 10-1 on the season while Independence pics up the second win in Jayhawk play improving to 2-5 and 5-5 on the season. The Cougars will need to put the loss to bed quickly as two more tough conference games are next on the schedule beginning with a Wednesday trip to Dodge City Community College before hosting nationally ranked Hutchinson Community College on Saturday to conclude the pre-Christmas schedule. Game ties set for 7:30 p.m. for both contests.
Four Cougars ended the night in double-figures led by the sixteen point and six assist effort from Jahlil Rawley. Malik Rhodes, Ezekiel Charles, and Keeshawn Palmer each contributed twelve with Palmer pulling down a game high ten rebounds including eight off the offensive glass recording the sophomore transfer's second double-double of the season.
Streeter nearly scored half the Pirates points as the sophomore went 11-of-14 from the field including 5-of-7 from long range and 11-of-14 from the free throw line leading a seven point edge for the Pirates coming from the charity stripe. Tate Turner was the only other Pirate in double figures adding eleven points.