While the rest of the Jayhawk Conference started league play Wednesday night, the Barton men had to wait one more playing date.

With the odd number of teams in the conference, one team has a bye date each time out. The Cougars drew that bye to start Jayhawk play.

Instead, Barton wrapped up its non conference slate with a 109-69 thumping of the Sterling JV at the Barton Gym. Barton stayed unbeaten at 9-0 while the Warriors are 5-7.

It was the fifth time in nine games Barton topped the 100-point mark.

Barton once again played the game without its top returning player and second leading scorer as Elijah Ford will be out until sometime in January with a broken wrist. Sterling hung around much of the first half. In fact, when Central Plains graduate Alex Barton hit a bucket with just less than eight minutes left in the half, the Cougars led just 36-27.

But the Cougars followed that with a 9-0 run to take a 45-27 lead before the former Oiler scored again for Sterling with 5:30 to play in the opening 20 minutes.

The game would not be close again.

By half, the Cougars had a 63-36 lead as all 12 Cougars saw the floor. Barton closed out the final 7:30 minutes on a 27-9 run.

With the game securely in hand, the second half was a bit of a lackluster affair much of the way. In fact, Sterling had the lead as low as 18 with 12 minutes left in the game.

The Cougars quickly got that lead back to 30 points just four minutes later.

John Williams scored 20 points in 19 minutes off the bench to lead the Cougars. Leondre Washington added 16, Diovonte Caldwell 15, Mavrick Gildyard 13 and Eric Amandio 11.

Reese Holder and Ezekiel Lacey each scored nine for Sterling while Barton finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals with a cheering section on hand.

A top 10 matchup was the highlight of the opening of Jayhawk play as No. 9 Hutchinson made the trip to No. 4 Coffeyville. The Red Ravens won that game, 78-67, leaving Barton the only unbeaten team left in the conference.

Barton will begin its trek through the Jayhawk with a trip to Arkansas City Saturday to take on Cowley. Cowley opened its league play Wednesday in Goodland  against Northwest Tech. The Tigers were 8-2 heading into that contest. Tip at Scott Auditorium in Ark City is set for 7:30 pm.

After the game at Cowley Saturday, Barton will be off to No. 4 Coffeyville then host Independence to close out the first semester.

Barton 109, Sterling JV 69

Sterling JV 36 33 – 69

Barton          63 46 – 109

Sterling JV (5-7) 69

English 3-9 0-2 8, Walker 1-5 0-2 2, Barton 4-11 0-1 8, Stewart 4-6 0-0 8, Heneha 3-7 1-2 8, Zimmerman 0-0 0-0 0, Lozado 0-3 2-2 2, Devaloes 1-6 2-2 4, Lacey 3-3 0-0 9, Holley 2-4 1-2 7, Laeky 1-3 0-0 2. Totals – 25-69 10-18 69.

Barton (9-0) 109

Vogts 1-4 0-0 3, Washington 6-11 3-4 16, Caldwell 6-9 0-1 15, White 3-8 0-0 6, Gildyard 4-10 5-7 13, Andrews 0-3 0-2 0, Johnson 4-5 1-2 9, Hunt 2-5 0-0 6, Bryson 2-5 2-2 7, Enneking 1-4 1-2 3, Williams 9-15 1-2 20, Amandio 5-6 1-1 11. Totals – 43-85 14-23 109.

3-pointers – Sterling JV 9-24 (Lacey 3-3, Holley 2-3, English 2-5, Heneha 1-3, Holder 1-5, Stewart 0-1, Williams 0-1, Lozado 0-1, Walker 0-2), Barton 9-23 (Caldwell 3-4, Hunt 2-4, Williams 1-3, Vogts 1-3, Washington 1-3, Bryson 1-3, Gildyard 0-3).

Rebounds – Sterling JV 44 (Stewart 11), Barton 51 (Amandio 8). Assists – Sterling JV 14 (Holder, Stewart 4), Barton 18 (Washington 5). Steals – Sterling JV 9 (Barton 3), Barton 16 (Hunt 4). Blocks – Sterling JV 1 (Heneha), Barton 6 (White 4).

Turnovers – Sterling JV 24, Barton 13. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – None.