Debuting in the NJCAA national rankings at No. 16 earlier in the day, the undefeated Barton Community College basketball team improved to 10-0 overall on Tuesday night.
Behind a monster game by sophomore power forward Dwayne Brunson, Barton dismantled the McPherson junior varsity 94-54 in non-conference action at Kirkman Activity Center.
“This is the best start in the last couple years,” Barton head coach Craig Fletchall said. “The guys are pleased where we are.”
With the Cougars collectively lacking some bounce in their step against McPherson’s JV at the outset, Brunson took over the game early, recording a double-double in the first half with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Cougars led 44-25 at halftime. Brunson finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots before sitting several minutes at the end.
“We wanted to sub a lot and mix and match with some things,” Fletchall said. “When you miss (shots) inside and get beat backdoor … we just lacked focus.”
Freshman guard Andell Cumberbatch added a season-high 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including 1-for-2 on 3-pointers and 2-for-4 on free throws.
Sophomore guard Julian Rose and sophomore forward Darius Hill added 11 points apiece. Rose hit 4 of 5 field goals, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, and converted both of his foul shots. Hill made 5 of 10 field goals and 1 of 5 free throws.
The Cougars were coming off three games in three days during the Highland Hotel-Booster Club Classic last weekend.
Though Barton sleep-walked through the opening minutes, a heavy dose of Brunson sent the outmanned Bulldogs reeling.
“I’m just getting myself ready for conference,” said Brunson, who is averaging 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds on the season. “Coach just wanted us to take them out from the beginning, and that’s what I decided to do.
“(McPherson’s JV) wasn’t boxing out, and it was like a walk in the park.”
NOTES — McPherson JV’s Derek Bevan graduated from Macksville High School last spring, helping lead Macksville to the Class 1A Division-I state championship last March. ... Bevan had seven points and team highs of nine rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. ... This weekend, Barton’s men and women are both taking part in the Hesston Classic. Barton’s women (7-2), which have won six straight, play host to Hesston at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by the Cougars taking on Hesston at 8. ... On Saturday, Barton’s women take on Brown Mackie at 2 p.m., followed by BCC’s men taking on Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at 4.
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center
Tuesday
MEN
Barton Community College 94,
McPherson Junior Varsity 54
McPHERSON JV (2-1)
Trevor Decker 0-6 3-4 3, Joey Powers 4-12 0-0 9, Mason Turner 3-8 0-0 8, Mitchell Smith 2-4 0-0 5, Derek Bevan 3-9 1-3 7, Kaven Denno 1-4 0-0 3, D’ onte Woods 3-12 0-2 7, Cord Cunningham 4-5 2-2 12. Totals 20-60 6-11 54.
BARTON (10-0)
Jonathan Pittman 3-13 0-0 6, Jalen Boyd 2-4 0-0 5, Algie Key 1-3 2-4 5, Dwayne Brunson 13-23 0-0 26, Carl Wallace 2-7 4-4 8, Kurt Walker 2-3 2-2 7, Andell Cumberbatch 5-10 2-4 13, Shaka Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Julian Rose 4-5 2-2 11, Ben Profitt 1-3 0-0 2, Darius Hill 5-10 1-5 11. Totals 38-81 14-21 94.
Halftime — Barton 44, McPherson 25. Three-point goals — McPherson JV (Cunningham 2-3, Turner 2-4, Powers 1-5, Woods 1-4, Denno 1-3, Smith 1-2, Bevan 0-2, Decker 0-1); Barton 4-10 (Boyd 1-2, Walker 1-2, Cumberbatch 1-2, Rose 1-2, Wallace 0-1, Profitt 0-1). Rebounds — Barton 59 (Brunson 12, Hill 8, Pittman 8); McPherson JV 32 (Bevan 9, Woods 7). Assists — Barton 21 (Key 6, Wallace 5); McPherson JV 12 (Bevan 4). Steals — Barton 10 (Cumberbatch 2, Rose 2, Profitt 2); McPherson JV 4 (Woods 2). Turnovers — McPherson 22, Barton 11. Blocked shots — McPherson 7 (Bevan 4). Barton 6 (Brunson 4).
