It was a game the Barton women have been in need of. After so many close loses, the Cougars were in search of a game where the outcome was never in doubt. A good old fashion blow out.
The Cougars got it Wednesday night at the Barton Gym. Barton jumped to an early lead and never looked back, defeating Colby, 83-40, in Jayhawk Conference action. It was Barton’s biggest conference win by far and the third largest of the season.
“I was happy for the kids to get a win,” Coach Trevor Rolfs said. “We have lost a lot of close games so to go out and get an easy win in a game we should win as nice.”
Barton is now 3-6 in the Jayhawk and 11-9 overall. Colby continues its struggles at 0-10 in the conference and 4-17 overall. Hutchinson (9-1), Coffeyville (8-1) and Garden City (8-1) are still at the top of the conference but everyone else has at least three losses in the Jayhawk.
Of the Cougars’ six conference losses, five had come by six points or less. In each of those games Barton had its chances in the final minutes to win. Both of Barton’s wins, meanwhile, had been by double figures.
It would not come down the final minutes Wednesday by any means. Barton jumped to a 6-0 lead, scored 11 straight to make it 17-2 and led 17-4 after the first quarter.
“We came out more aggressive tonight,” Coach Rolfs said. “That was how we got back in the Dodge game so we wanted to do that from the start. We have had some slow starts we wanted to get going early.”
By halftime Barton had extended the lead to 39-14 and continued to pull away in the third period, leading by 44 heading into the final frame. Barton took a 66-22 lead to the fourth period.
Five Cougars reached double figures in the win, highlighted by 19 points from Protection sophomore Kilee Harris. Great Bend freshman Regan Unruh scored 15.
Sophomore guard Dominique Baker and freshman Alexus Bryson each added 12. Marion freshman Megan Jirak finished with 10.
Jirak, Harris, and Unruh all turned in double-doubles. Jirak led Barton with 13 rebounds, Harris added 12 and Unruh finished with 10.
As a team Barton outrebounded Colby 61-25.
Barton has a shot at moving up the standings with another home game Wednesday. The Cougars will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time in conference play when Seward County comes to the Barton Gym.