The Barton Community College women’s basketball team didn’t waste any time against the McPherson junior varsity on Wednesday night at Kirkman Activity Center.
The Lady Cougars jumped ahead 11-0 from the outset, and continued to pile on the points for a 98-58 win.
Barton had 24 fast-break points, keeping the tempo up on offense throughout the majority of the game.
“That’s what we want,” Barton head coach Carter Kruger said. “We talk about fast break everyday in practice because that’s the best time to score, when the defense hasn’t set. The more we can do that as the season goes, the better off we’ll be.”
Along with the 11-0 run that started the game, the Lady Cougars had runs of 11-0, 13-0 and 8-0 with McPherson sprinkling in points here and there throughout the first half.
Barton’s defense forced 22 turnovers in the first half alone, leading to 30 points off turnovers.
“I take away our level of focus, our level of intensity on the defensive end,” Kruger said of the lopsided win. “If we can sustain that for 40 minutes, than we played a good game regardless of the score.”
Barton finished with 39 points off turnovers.
“That’s what you want to do when the other team gives you the opportunity,” Kruger said. “When they turn it over, it’s a pretty good chance to score in transition.
“I was happy with that, and I was happy with how we ran the floor. We just need to continue to get better now.”
The Lady Cougar held a commanding 59-24 lead at halftime, with Ashton Bruner scoring 13 of her 15 points in the first half.
“She’s a good player,” Kruger said of Bruner, who had a team-leading eight rebounds. “She’s got a knack for putting the ball in the basket, and she’s getting better everyday, which is pretty scary for other people to see.”
The large early lead allowed for several players to come off the bench to play. Barton’s bench accounted for 54 points.
“I was happy with the way they came out and played,” Kruger said of his reserves. “We challenged them before the game that if they got an opportunity, they had to take advantage of it, because that’s something when you look back to October at scrimmages, there has been a little bit of a drop off.
“I thought they did a better job playing in our system and playing to their abilities.”
Sharyce Warren had a lot to do with the fast-paced offense, getting a team-leading five steals and eight assists while scoring 11 points.
“She’s pretty much like energy in a bottle,” Kruger said of the 5-foot-3 freshman guard. “When you put her out there, she just keeps going. That’s what we love about her.
“Her decision making can be better at times, and late in games, it’s harder to do that at times. But that’s what we keep aiming for as a basketball team.”
Taylor Mayes had 14 points, going 7-for-8 from the field.
Victoria Davis had 12 points off the bench, and Ciera Lampe and Brandy Winbush each scored 11 points.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WOMEN

Wednesday

At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center

Barton 98, McPherson JV 58
McPHERSON JV
     Chandler Short 0-10 6-6 6, Stephanie Ellis 04 2-6 2, Sunny Smart 7-18 3-3 22, Amara Griffith 2-7 1-3 5, Callie Atkins 5-11 4-4 16, Kalyn Deckard 0-24-44, Brenda Tejero 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 15-55 20-24 58.
BARTON (3-0)
     Kailai Brantner 1-2 1-1 3, Ashton Bruner 6-12 3-6 15, Cheyenne Hedrington 2-6 0-0 4, Mariana Lambert 3-9 0-0 8, Taylor Mayes 7-8 0-2 14, Sharyce Warren 5-14 0-0 11, Brandy Winbush 4-11 0-0 11, Alexis Ryan 0-1 0-0 0, Victoria Davis 5-7 1-1 12, Raven Walker 0-1 0-0 0, Phikala Anthony 3-4 0-0 7, Bethany Bowman 1-4 0-0 2, Ciera Lampe 4-7 1-2 11. Totals 41-86 6-12 98.
     Halftime — Barton 59, McPherson JV 24. Three-point goals — McPherson JV 8-26 (Smart 5-10, Atkins 2-7, Tejero 1-1, Short 0-5, Ellis 0-1, Griffith 0-1, Deckard 0-1); Barton 10-28 (Winbush 3-8, Lambert 2-6, Lampe 2-3, Warren 1-7, Davis 1-1, Anthony 1-1 Brantner 0-1, Ryan 0-1). Rebounds — McPherson JV 39 (Ellis 6, Atkins 6); Barton 52 (Bruner 8). Assists — McPherson JV 9 (Short 3, Deckard 3); Barton 33 (Warren 8). Steals — McPherson JV 8 (Ellis 2, Smart 2, Atkins 2, Deckard 2); Barton 18 (Warren). Total fouls — McPherson JV 11; Barton 19. Turnovers — McPherson JV 31; Barton 17.