Classic Cougars

Barton men improve record to 5-1 with win over St. Mary JV

BY JOHN J. MESH

The Barton Community College men’s basketball team beat St. Mary College of Leavenworth’s junior varsity squad for the second time in two days and improved its record to 5-1.

The Cougars fought off the Spires 90-71 Sunday afternoon in the Sunflower Bank Classic a day after beating them 98-70.

St. Mary played Barton twice and Pratt Community College twice during the tournament because Buckley Air Force Base backed out of the Classic citing concerns about the weather in Colorado Springs.

St. Mary lost to Pratt 93-74 Sunday afternoon. The Spires played another game at Butler County Community College Monday night at El Dorado.

“Props to those guys — they played hard,” said Barton men’s coach Craig Fletchall.

The Cougars were paced by three players with “double-doubles” Sunday. Kevin Smith led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Samer Jassar had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Collin Beatty had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Ronald Baker scored 14 points, Karon Butler 12 and Dennan Morrow 11.

Joseph Reid contributed 8 points, Great Bend freshman Cody Branham 5 and Marcus Johnson 2.

Tyler Springer contributed 8 assists. The Cougars outrebounded the Spires 63-40 with 21 offensive boards, had 23 assists on 35 field goals and forced 18 turnovers.

Barton made 10-of-15 3-pointers. Morrow and Burton each had three treys, Baker two, Cody Branham one and Beatty one.

Beau Branham led the Spires with 20 points. Justin Crutchfield had 11 points. Jordan Bichelmeyer had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Despite playing 160 minutes in two days, the Spires outscored Barton 46-33 in the second half and hit six 3-pointers (all in the second half).

“We shared the ball well, but they hit six 3’s in the second half and that’s a concern,” Fletchall said. “We got two games in and hopefully we improved. I liked the way the kids handled things this weekend.”

Fletchall said Smith, a 6-foot-4 freshman forward from Detroit, played a great all-around game for the Cougars.

“He was here last year as a redshirt,” Fletchall said. “He’s only going to get better.”

Barton hosts Brown Mackie College-Salina at 7 p.m. Tuesday and then, along with the Cougar women’s team, hosts the Booster Club Classic Friday and Saturday at the Barton gymnasium.

The Cougar men play Labette at 7 p.m. Friday and Coffeyville at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Barton women play Eastern Oklahoma at 5 p.m. Friday and Penn Valley at 5 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re ready for it,” Fletchall said. “We need a good crowd in here. It will be a good Classic. Tuesday (against Brown Mackie) is men’s only. We’re going to have to play well.”

Pratt CC 93, St. Mary JV 74

Pratt, coached by Quivira Heights High School and Barton CC alum Trevor Rolfs, improved to 4-1 with a 93-74 win over St. Mary JV Sunday.

Pratt placed four players in double figures, led by Trae Beck with 20 points. Illwia Baldwin, a 6-11, 260-pound sophomore from Brisbane, Australia, had 17 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

Marcus Smith added 14 points. Tyrone Gordon had 13 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Justin Crutchfield and Beau Branham each had 15 points for the Spires. Jeb Greenberg and Chandler Schaake each had 12 points.