BY MIKE MARZOLF
Special to the Tribune
CONCORDIA – It hasn’t always been pretty for the Barton men’s basketball team this season. Wednesday was no different for the Cougars.
But just like they have now 13 of 15 games on the season, the Cougars left the court with a win.
Barton led nearly the entire way at Arley Bryant Gym in Concordia but could never shake off the pesky host Cloud County Thunderbirds in an 80-75 win.
Martin Vogts delivered a series big plays in the final 35 seconds to help the secure their win.
Barton (13-2, 4-2 Jayhawk) plays Allen County at home Saturday. Cloud (10-6, 4-3) had a 4-game winning streak end.
“We were in control but Cloud just wouldn’t go away,” Coach Craig Fletchall said. “Cloud has a nice team. I wouldn’t want to play them later in the year.”
From the beginning it was Barton getting a lead and Cloud coming back.
Barton built a 7-0 lead. The T-Birds rallied for a 16-14 lead four minutes later.
The Cougars used a 9-0 run later to gain control. Akeem White had a dunk in the run and DeMarcus Morris converted on a traditional 3-point play for the 27-21 lead with 5:31 to play.
But, like would happen time and again, Cloud bounced right back on an 8-1 run to take a 2928 lead with 3:45 to play before half.
The Cougars led 38-34 at half after Martin Vogts knocked down a 3-pointer with three seconds left.
The Cougars led by as many as five on a Breontae Hunt 3-pointer with 15:39 to play. Cloud tied the game at 47-all a couple minutes later.
The theme continued. Barton took its biggest lead of the second half on a deep 3-pointer from Vogts for a 61-55 lead with 8:09 left.
The Cougars continued to seize control of the contest, taking their biggest lead of the game at 65-57 a minute later.
On cue, Cloud came back. When Gabe Pieschl hit a trey for the T-Birds with four minutes to play, Barton’s lead was 69-66. Another Pieschl 3-pointer and a follow by an Alvin Thompson bucket cut the Barton lead to 72-71 with three minutes to play. Thompson gave Cloud’s its first lead of the second half with 2:29 to play after a Pieschl steal for a layup at 73-72.
Game on.
Tied at 75-all, Vogts came up with the first of three big plays. Near the top of the key, Vogts found White cutting down the lane for a layup and a 77-75 lead with 34 seconds left.
Vogts came up big on the defensive end, getting a steal with 17 seconds left. He converted a free throw to make it a 78-75 game.
Vogts made sure of the win after getting yet another steal on Cloud’s next possession. Leondre Washington put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with eight seconds left.
White scored 19 to lead the Cougars while Washington added 18. Ford had a double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Thompson led all scorers with 24 in a loss for Cloud.
Barton 38 42 – 80
Cloud 34 41 – 75
BARTON (13-2, 4-2)--Vogts 2-7 1-2 7, Washington 5-13 8-9 18, Ford 5-10 2-4 12, Enneking 1- 0-0 2, White 7-11 5-6 19, Andrews 0-1 0-0 0, Hunt 2-3 0-2 6, Byrson 1-1 0-0 2, Caldwell 3-8 0-0 7, Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Gildyard 1-2 0-0 2, Morris 1-3 1-1 3. Totals – 29-63 17-24 80.
CLOUD (10-6, 4-3)—Scott 2-9 0-0 5, Ayilara 1-4 2-2 4, Thompson 9-17 5-6 24, Day 0-3 2-2 2, Del Cadia 1-8 2-2 4, Kidd 3-6 0-0 8, Shields 3-6 1-1 7, Sims 3-11 1-2 9, Sissoko 1-2 0-0 2, Pieschl 2-3 0-0 6, Enaruna 1-4 2-4 4. Totals – 26-73 15-19 75.
3-pointers – Barton 5-24 (Hunt 2-3, Vogts 2-6, Caldwell 1-2, Ford 0-1, Andrews 0-1, Gildyard 0-1, Morris 0-1, Williams 0-2, White 0-2, Washington 0-5), Cloud 8-28 (Pieschl 2-2, Kidd 2-4, Sims 2-7, Scott 1-4, Thompson 1-5, Ayilara 0-1, Shields 0-1).
Rebounds – BC 44 (Ford 10), CC 39 (Del Cadia 7).Assists – BC 12 (Washington, Caldwell 3), CC 14 (Day 4). Steals – BC 6 (Vogts, Caldwell 2), CC 8 (Scott, Kidd 2). Blocks – Barton 4 (Ford 2), CC 2 (Del Cadia, Sissoko). TO – BC 19, CC 14.
JAYHAWK WEST MEN
Seward County 5-1 12-3
Hutchinson 4-2 13-2
Barton 4-2 13-2
Colby 3-3 8-7
Garden City 2-4 7-8
Dodge City 1-5 6-9
NW Tech 1-6 9-7
Pratt 0-6 7-8
JAYHAWK EAST MEN
Coffeyville 6-1 15-2
Independence 5-2 10-6
Allen County 4-3 12-4
Neosho County 4-3 11-6
Cloud County 4-3 10-6
Cowley 3-4 11-6
Butler 3-4 10-6
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9
Barton 75, Cloud 70
Butler 92, Pratt 67
Coffeyville 88, Colby 70
Cowley 87, Dodge City 78
Garden City 79, Neosho 59
Allen 85, NW Tech 83
Seward 77, Independence 64
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
Barton 89, Butler 67
Cloud 73, NW Tech 66
Coffeyville 82, Mo. West Plains 74
Colby 69, Cowley 65
Hutchinson 102, Allen 86
Independence 70, Garden City 65
No. Oklahoma 96, Dodge City 85
Neosho 94, Pratt 88
