DODGE CITY – If there were hopes for an easy win Saturday by the Barton women’s basketball team, those thoughts went away immediately at the Activities Center in Dodge City.
Barton fell behind 9-0 out of the gates. The Cougars rallied to put themselves in position to win in the final period, but another 12-1 run by Dodge City to end the game was the final nail in the coffin.
The Cougars suffered a tough loss at Dodge City, falling 55-51. Barton is now 10-11 in the Jayhawk Conference and 13-12 overall. Dodge City is 7-14 and 10-14.
Barton has now lost six of its past seven as it fights for a top eight finish in the conference and a home playoff game.
The Cougars are in a battle with Coffeyville for that eighth and final spot. Coffeyville picked up a win at Neosho Saturday to move one game up in that battle at 11-10 in the league.
In between those runs at the beginning and end of the game, Barton outscored Dodge, 50-34. But it didn’t matter.
Barton fell behind 9-0 before Micaela Jellison broke the scoring drought on a jumper with 5:35 left in the opening quarter.
The lead grew to 13-2 for Dodge City before Coach Clark used his second timeout. Again, Jellison scored out of the time out and started a 9-0 run to end the first quarter over the final three minutes to make it a 13-11 game after one.
The second quarter started much the same as Dodge came out and scored the first seven points in just two minutes, forcing a third timeout in the half by Barton, trailing 20-11.
The lead reached 21-11 before Madison Dirks hit a pair of free throws with 6:40 left in the second for the first points of the period for Barton.
That started a 9-2 run that brought the Cougars back to within 23-20. Barton whittled the lead to 25-24 following a bucket by Jeanna Dixon.
The Cougars missed a chance to take the lead in the final seconds on a turnover and a 3-pointer by Allie Baker of Dodge City at the buzzer gave the Conquistadors a 28-24 halftime lead.
The third quarter did not start like the first two. If fact, quite the contrary.
Regan hit two free throws, Natasha Dolinsky a fast-break layup and Jellison and bank shot in the first minute and half to give Barton it’s first lead of the game at 30-28 with 8:35 left in the third.
When Madison Dirks, from nearby Montezuma, drilled a trey, Barton led 34-28 with five minutes left in the quarter.
Barton would add three more free throws to give Barton a 13-0 run to start the quarter and its biggest lead, 37-28.
Dodge City finally scored with 2:07 left in the period on another trey by Baker. Baker added another a third trey in the final seconds as Barton took a 41-35 lead into the final 10 minutes.
Barton appeared to be in good shape midway through the final period, holding a 50-43 lead.
But the Cougars did not score another point until Jaylin Stapleton hit 1-of-2 free throws with 22 seconds left after Dodge City went on a 10-0 run to take the lead.
Stapleton’s free throw cut it to 53-51 but Baker added a pair of free throws with 16.7 seconds left for Dodge to make it 55-51, the eventual final score.
Regan, the reigning conference player of the week, had another monster game with 13 points and 18 rebounds. Jellison finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Baker had a huge game for Dodge City with 24 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
The Cougars are back home Wednesday for a Pink Out Night at the Barton Gym. The Valentine’s Day contest will tip at 5:30 pm.

Dodge City 55, Barton 51
Barton 11 13 17 10 – 51
Dodge 13 15 7 20 – 55
Barton (10-11, 13-12) 51
Regan 4-12 5-6 13, Jellison 4-13 2-2 10, Ndao 1-4 1-2 3, Dolinsky 2-8 2-2 6, Miller 0-7 4-4 4, Dixon 1-7 0-0 2, White 0-1 0-0 0-0, Stapleton 2-4 3-4 7, Dirks 1-4 3-4 6, Chukwudi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 15-60 20-24 51.
Dodge City (7-14, 10-14) 55
Nelson 1-4 1-2 3, Burris 1-8 0-0 3, Rowley 3-12 0-0 8, Baker 8-18 4-5 24, Dale 0-4 3-4 3, Fitts 0-7 0-0 0, Ewing 3-5 1-1 7, Ortiz 0-0 0-0 0, Maple 0-1 0-0 0, Morrison 3-6 1-1 7. Totals – 19-65 10-13 55.
3-pointers – Barton 1-13 (Dirks 1-4, Jellison 0-1, Dixon 0-1, Regan 0-2, Miller 0-5); Dodge 7-22 (Baker 4-7 Rowley 2-4, Burris 1-7, Fitts 0-2, Morrison 0-2).
Rebounds – Barton 54 (Regan 18), Dodge 39 (Dale 9). Assists – Barton 8 (Dolinsky 5), Dodge 10 (Dale 3). Steals – Barton 10 (Dolinsky 4), Dodge 11 (Baker 5). Blocks – Barton 3 (Dirks 2), Dodge 6 (Maple 2).
Turnovers – Barton 21, Dodge 16. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – None.