Special to the Tribune
The start of the new basketball season was a great one for the Barton women's basketball team.
For one quarter, that is.
The Cougars exploded out fo the gates to a double-digit lead in the first quarter of their season opener Saturday night at the Barton Gym.
Unfortunately, by halftime that lead was gone. Then after falling behind by double digits, the Cougars made a furious fourth quarter rally only to come up short.
Barton lost its season opener, falling to a very good Redlands Community College, 74-72.
Redlands had three starters back from a 21-win team last season.
"They have several quality players back from last season and we didn't have very many," Coach Alan Clark said. "That makes a big difference early in the season.
"It just came down to they made a couple more plays than we did. It could have gone either way, they just made the plays when they needed them."
The Cougars were quick out of the gates. Barton jumped to an 8-2 lead just two minutes in. The lead reached double figures on a 3-pointer by Tiffany Dortland with 3:38 left in the quarter to make it an 18-8 game. A Queen Ulabo trey made it 21-8 as Barton led 24-13 after one.
The lead reached 27-13 in the first few seconds of the second quarter on another Dortland trey but then Barton went cold.
The Cougars scored just two more points over the next seven minutes as Redlands went on an 18-2 run to take a 31-29 lead late in the second quarter. At half, Redlands led 36-33.
The lead grew to double figures for Redlands, 48-37, midway through the third. It was still at eight, 56-48, after three quarters.
In the final period, Barton made it a game.
The Cougars caught Redlands at 63-all after a D'Shonda Hunt layup and free throw with 3:47 to play. A Vanessa Oduah jumper tied it again at 65-all with 1:37 to play and pair of Oduah free throws made it 67-all with 1:07 left.
The key shot of the game came from Kiara Lovings for Redlands. With the shot clock winding down, Lovings hit a trey from the left wing to give Redlands a 70-67 lead with 39 seconds to play. It was Lovings only made trey in five attempts.
Barton cut the lead to a single digit on Bryn Willt layup with 20 seconds to play but that would be as close at the Cougars would get.
Redlands hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final 17 seconds to push the lead to 74-69 before Dortland's fourth trey of the game in the seconds cut the final margin to a pair.
"We fought back," Coach Clark said. "I was proud of the girls for that. We kept battling. Redlands came from double figures back and then we came from double figures back."
Ulabo led Barton with 21 in her Barton debut followed by Dortland with 16. Oduah added 12. Ulabo had a double-double for the Cougars adding 11 rebounds.
Reneya Hopkins led Redlands led all scorers with 23 to pace four Redlands players in double figures.
The Cougars return to action Wednesday when the Sterling JV visits the Barton Gym in a 5:30 pm tip.
Redlands 74, Barton 72
Redlands 13 23 20 18 – 74
Barton 24 9 15 24 – 72
Redlands (1-0) 74
Jenkins 4-5 2-2 11, Banks 2-4 0-1 4, Hopkins 8-18 5-5 23, Jackson 5-11 0-0 12, Lovings 2-9 0-0 5, Jones 5-7 2-2 15, Row 0-0 0-0 0, Mercer 0-1 0-0 0, Nieheus 1-3 0-0 2, Perkins 1-3 0-0 2. Totals – 28-61 9-10 74.
Barton (0-1) 72
Willt 3-10 0-0 8, Hunt 3-6 1-2 7, Ulabo 8-17 3-3 21, Oduah 3-13 5-5 12, Davis 1-4 3-4 5, Dortland 6-15 0-0 16, Talbott 0-0 0-0 0, Sanger 0-0 0-0 0, Valentine 0-3 0-0 0, Miller 1-2 0-0 3. Totals – 25-70 12-14 72.
3-pointers – Redlands 9-28 (Jones 3-5, Jenkins 2-2, Jackson 2-5, Hopkins 2-8, Lovings 1-5, Banks 0-1, Mercer 0-1, Niehues 0-1), Barton 10-27 (Dortland 4-9, Ulabo 2-6, Willt 2-7, Miller 1-2, Oduah 1-3).
Rebounds – Redlands 34 (Jackson 7), Barton 44 (Ulabo 11). Assists – Redlands 13 (Lovings 5), Barton 13 (Oduah 3). Steals – Redlands 9 (3 with 2), Barton 6 (6 with 1). Blocks – Redlands 10 (Niehues 3), Barton 1 (Willt).
The start of the new basketball season was a great one for the Barton women's basketball team.
For one quarter, that is.
The Cougars exploded out fo the gates to a double-digit lead in the first quarter of their season opener Saturday night at the Barton Gym.
Unfortunately, by halftime that lead was gone. Then after falling behind by double digits, the Cougars made a furious fourth quarter rally only to come up short.
Barton lost its season opener, falling to a very good Redlands Community College, 74-72.
Redlands had three starters back from a 21-win team last season.
"They have several quality players back from last season and we didn't have very many," Coach Alan Clark said. "That makes a big difference early in the season.
"It just came down to they made a couple more plays than we did. It could have gone either way, they just made the plays when they needed them."
The Cougars were quick out of the gates. Barton jumped to an 8-2 lead just two minutes in. The lead reached double figures on a 3-pointer by Tiffany Dortland with 3:38 left in the quarter to make it an 18-8 game. A Queen Ulabo trey made it 21-8 as Barton led 24-13 after one.
The lead reached 27-13 in the first few seconds of the second quarter on another Dortland trey but then Barton went cold.
The Cougars scored just two more points over the next seven minutes as Redlands went on an 18-2 run to take a 31-29 lead late in the second quarter. At half, Redlands led 36-33.
The lead grew to double figures for Redlands, 48-37, midway through the third. It was still at eight, 56-48, after three quarters.
In the final period, Barton made it a game.
The Cougars caught Redlands at 63-all after a D'Shonda Hunt layup and free throw with 3:47 to play. A Vanessa Oduah jumper tied it again at 65-all with 1:37 to play and pair of Oduah free throws made it 67-all with 1:07 left.
The key shot of the game came from Kiara Lovings for Redlands. With the shot clock winding down, Lovings hit a trey from the left wing to give Redlands a 70-67 lead with 39 seconds to play. It was Lovings only made trey in five attempts.
Barton cut the lead to a single digit on Bryn Willt layup with 20 seconds to play but that would be as close at the Cougars would get.
Redlands hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final 17 seconds to push the lead to 74-69 before Dortland's fourth trey of the game in the seconds cut the final margin to a pair.
"We fought back," Coach Clark said. "I was proud of the girls for that. We kept battling. Redlands came from double figures back and then we came from double figures back."
Ulabo led Barton with 21 in her Barton debut followed by Dortland with 16. Oduah added 12. Ulabo had a double-double for the Cougars adding 11 rebounds.
Reneya Hopkins led Redlands led all scorers with 23 to pace four Redlands players in double figures.
The Cougars return to action Wednesday when the Sterling JV visits the Barton Gym in a 5:30 pm tip.
Redlands 74, Barton 72
Redlands 13 23 20 18 – 74
Barton 24 9 15 24 – 72
Redlands (1-0) 74
Jenkins 4-5 2-2 11, Banks 2-4 0-1 4, Hopkins 8-18 5-5 23, Jackson 5-11 0-0 12, Lovings 2-9 0-0 5, Jones 5-7 2-2 15, Row 0-0 0-0 0, Mercer 0-1 0-0 0, Nieheus 1-3 0-0 2, Perkins 1-3 0-0 2. Totals – 28-61 9-10 74.
Barton (0-1) 72
Willt 3-10 0-0 8, Hunt 3-6 1-2 7, Ulabo 8-17 3-3 21, Oduah 3-13 5-5 12, Davis 1-4 3-4 5, Dortland 6-15 0-0 16, Talbott 0-0 0-0 0, Sanger 0-0 0-0 0, Valentine 0-3 0-0 0, Miller 1-2 0-0 3. Totals – 25-70 12-14 72.
3-pointers – Redlands 9-28 (Jones 3-5, Jenkins 2-2, Jackson 2-5, Hopkins 2-8, Lovings 1-5, Banks 0-1, Mercer 0-1, Niehues 0-1), Barton 10-27 (Dortland 4-9, Ulabo 2-6, Willt 2-7, Miller 1-2, Oduah 1-3).
Rebounds – Redlands 34 (Jackson 7), Barton 44 (Ulabo 11). Assists – Redlands 13 (Lovings 5), Barton 13 (Oduah 3). Steals – Redlands 9 (3 with 2), Barton 6 (6 with 1). Blocks – Redlands 10 (Niehues 3), Barton 1 (Willt).
Turnovers – Redlands 20, Barton 21. Fouled Out – Oduah, Barton. Technicals – None.
