Barton handed loss at Butler

The Barton Community College men's basketball team has not found the Power Plant in El Dorado to be very friendly the past few seasons. It wasn't again Saturday as Butler defeated Barton 82-58 in Jayhawk West action. It was the 3rd straight year the Cougars have lost by at least 16 points at Butler. Barton is now 6-7 in the West and 18-9 overall while Butler improves to 6-6 and 16-10. The Cougars will be at home Wednesday to take on Hutchinson in West play. It is just 1 of 3 West games remaining for the Cougars as the regular season draws to an end. Hutch is 6-6 in the West and 20-6 overall. The two clubs – along with about 3 other teams including Butler – are fighting for a pair of home playoff spots up for grabs.

Highlights
Barton trailed most of the game but kept itself within striking distance until a Butler run in the 2nd half doomed the Cougars. After trailing by as many as 12 late in the 1st half, the Cougars were able to trim the lead to 42-40 with 15 minutes left in the game. But over the next 6 minutes the Cougars were able to net just 4 points while Butler tossed in 17, opening up a 59-44 lead with 9:23 to play. The Grizzlies run continued until it reached 27-6 and a 69-46 lead with 6:35 left putting the game well out of reach.

It was the same story for Barton as it has been in recent losses – troubles getting the ball into the hoop. The Cougars struggled to just 32 percent shooting during the contest and hit just 9-of-33 shots in the 2nd half including a 0-for-12 effort on 3's. Colin Betty led Barton with 12 points and was one of the few Cougars to shoot well, hitting 5-of-10 shots but just 1-of-4 3-pointers. Carl Wallace and Dwayne Brunson each added 11 points. Storm Sanders led Barton with 4 assists and Adam Young with 9 rebounds.

Much like the 1st meeting when Butler drained 3-pointers on the Cougars in the 2nd half in Great Bend, the Grizzlies were at it again. As Butler pulled away in the 2nd half, it was on the back of 6-of-8 shooting beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. Butler ended the game 10-of-19 on 3's for 53 percent.

The Cougars are back in action Wednesday in a must-win game if Barton is going to host a 1st round playoff game. Barton will host Hutchinson, who comes in at 6-6. The Cougars could gain the tie-breaker with the Blue Dragons and hand them their 7th loss like the Cougars with a win. With a loss, Barton would fall to 8 losses and be in a situation where the best they could finish is 8-8 and possibly hope for a tie-breaker to fall their way to get a home game.  

Stats
Stats can be found was www.bartonsports.com  

Next
Feb 16 – v Hutch 8 pm (Jayhawk West game at the Barton Gym in Great Bend)