The final touches were put on the non-conference schedule with ease for the Barton men’s basketball team.
The Cougars did that Wednesday night at the Barton Gym with a 125-70 win over the Sterling JV. That wrapped up the pre-conference slate with a perfect 4-0 mark.
Now it’s on to Saturday and the start of the longest conference slate ever.
Barton will travel to Colby Saturday night to take on the Trojans. It will be the first of 26 straight Jayhawk Conference games.
The Cougars had very little trouble with the Warriors Wednesday. Barton jumped to a lead of 15-2, increased it to 42-20 and eventually to 56-29 at half.
The Cougars put the exclamation point on during a 15-0 run early in the second half for a commanding 80-33 lead.
Seven different Cougars scored double figures in the win. Malik Rhodes tossed in 21 to pace Barton on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-6 on 3’s. Malik Toppin also hit 8-of-11 shots for 16 points. Ezekiel Charles shot even better, hitting 8-of-10 for 19 points.
Devonte Baker added 15, Anthony Smith 14 and Jahlil Rawley 12 all off the bench. John Barbee scored 11 as well.
As a team, Barton hit 49-0f-80 from the floor for 61 percent. Take away a 9-of-28 performance on 3-pointer, the Cougars connected on 40-of-52 2-point field goals.
Smith and Toppin both turned in double doubles with 10 rebounds each. Rawley added eight assists and four steals to the cause.
Barton 125, Sterling JV 70
Sterling JV 29 41 70
Barton 56 69 125
Sterling JV (54)
Bell 2-4 3-4 8, Mitts 2-5 1-2 5, Krehbiel 2-3 0-0 5, Ohler 1-12 5-6 7, Stewart 2-6 0-0 4, Hendrixson 3-7 0-0 8, Popkess 2-6 0-0 6, Keller 1-3 1-2 4, Price 2-5 0-0 6, Loya 1-3 0-0 2, Ostrosky 3-5 0-0 8, Johnson 4-6 0-0 8. Total – 25-65 10-14 70.
Barton (125)
Norman 1-5 0-0 0, Rhodes 8-11 2-3 21, Toppin 8-11 0-0 16, Barbee 4-9 1-2 11, Charles 8-10 2-2 19, Barker 7-11 0-0 15, Webster 3-5 3-4 9, Rawley 5-7 0-0 12, Haist 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 4-8 6-6 14, Poole 0-0 0-0 0, Palmer 1-2 4-6 6.. Totals 49-80 18-23 125.
3-pointers –Sterling JV 10-30 (Price 2-4, Hednrixson 2-5, Ostrosky 2-3, Keller 1-1, Bell 1-2. Krehbiel 1-2, Mitts 0-1, Loya 0-1, Johnson 0-1). Barton 9-28 (Rhodes 3-6, Rawley 2-3, Barbee 2-7, Charles 1-3, Barker 1-4, Palmer 0-1, Webster 0-1, Norman 0-3).
Rebounds –Sterling JV 30 (Ohler 7). Barton 45 (Toppin, Smith 10). Assists –Sterling JV 9 (Bell 3). Barton 22 (Rawley 8). Steals –Sterling JV 3 (3 with 1). Barton 12 (Smith 4). Blocks – Sterling JV 0, Barton 2 (Toppin, Rawley).
Turnovers –Sterling JV 21, Barton 12. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
