Cougars break skid; romp Seward on road
The Barton County Community College men's basketball team emphatically put an end to its losing streak to start Jayhawk West play with an 81-57 win over Seward County Saturday night at the Green House in Liberal. The win put an end to a 3-game skid to start the West season as the Cougars improve to 1-3 in the conference and 13-4 overall. Barton dominated the 2nd half of action, outscoring Seward 36-14. The Saints fell to 13-4 overall and 1-2 in the West. Barton will return home Wednesday to host Garden City. Garden is 2-2 in the West and 13-4 overall.

Highlights
It was another slow start for Barton just like the 1st 3 West games, but this time the Cougars shifted into high gear and never let off the gas, handing Seward not only its worst loss of the season but the 24-point setback equaled the total points of the 1st 3 losses combined for the Saints.

Barton fell behind 17-9 just 7 minutes into the contest and trailed 24-15 with 12 minutes to play. The Cougars followed with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 24-all but didn't get its 1st lead until an Antowine Lamb basket with 4:11 to play in the half for a 41-40 lead. Barton led 45-43 at half following a transition layup from Qa'rraan Calhoun following a Nyika Williams block.

What was a close contest throughout most of the 1st half quickly became a blowout in the 2nd half. Five quick points from Chris Jackson made it 50-43 and a steal by Chip Steven and layup from Javon Parris made it 52-43 just more than 2 minutes into the half as Seward turned the ball over the 1st 4 times the Saints had the ball to start the half. A Lamb tip-in and Calhoun jumper made it 11 straight to start the half for Barton, giving the Cougars a 56-43 lead with 15 minutes to play.

Seward finally broke the ice with its 1st basket of the 2nd half on the next possession but after the 3-pointer Barton followed with an 11-0 run to give the Cougars a 67-46 lead at the midway point of the half. Seward would get the lead under 20 just once the rest of the way as Barton led by as many as 26.

Calhoun led Barton with 22 points in 25 minutes – the most minutes he has played since the West opener as the sophomore has been fighting a sore back. Jackson added 14, Parris 12 and Williams 10 for the Cougars. Matt Simmons had his 1st double figure rebound game since November with 11 boards. Simmons had a string of 7 straight double figure rebound games early in the season. He leads Barton at 9.1 rebounds per contest. Parris tied a career-high with 9 assists in the contest with Steven adding 5. The Barton bench – including Calhoun – contributed 40 points for the Cougars while Seward's scored just 10.

Reggie Chamberlain led Seward with 20 points spurred by 5 1st half 3's. Chamberlain scored just 3 points – all free throws in the 2nd half. The Saints made just 4-of-23 field goals in the 2nd half and just 1-of-11 3-pointers.

The Cougars will look for back-to-back West wins as Garden visit the Barton Gym Wednesday for an 8 pm tip. Garden stumbled out of the West gate as well, losing at Colby and Butler County to start the schedule. Since then, Garden has earned home wins over Pratt and Cloud County and is tied for 3rd at 2-2.

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

Next 
Wed Jan 16 – v Garden City, 8 pm (Jayhawk West play at the Barton Gym in Great Bend)

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Check out Barton Basketball Online atwww.bartonccc.edu/sports