By Mack McClure

mmcclure@gbtribune.com

An uptempo transition game helped Barton Community College put together what Cougars head coach Craig Fletchall said was his team’s best performance thus far this season.

The Cougars hammered Garden City 79-59 in Garden City on Saturday night to improve to 14-4 overall, 2-2 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division.

Barton has a pair of critical KJCCC games this week, starting tonight when it hosts Butler at Kirkman Athletic Center, tipping off at 8 after the women’s game. Like Barton, Butler is also riding the crest of a big triumph. The Grizzlies nipped NJCAA top-ranked Hutchinson 81-80 on Saturday night.

Barton travels to Hutch on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tilt

On Saturday night in Garden City, the fast-breaking Cougars were led by forwards Adam Young and Dwayne Brunson, who combined for 37 points — Young had 20 points and seven rebounds and Brunson had 17 points, six rebounds, seven steals and went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.

Carl Wallace added 16 points, including 12 for 14 on free throws, as the Cougars finished 25 for 39 at the line. Colin Beatty had nine points and a team-high nine rebounds, and point guard Storm Sanders dished out a team-high five of their 15 assists. Wallace added four assists.

“We were down 17-7 early and we were only up one point at halftime,” Fletchall said. “We outscored them 44-25 in the second half. We went on a big run early in the second half and scored in transition and got to the free-throw line.

“Butler started off the conference last season 1-2 and went on to win the region. After beating Hutch, they’re 1-2 now in the conference and getting healthy and that’s kind of scary.”

Shooting a combined 24 for 59 from the field (40.7 percent), the Cougars were led by Young hitting 9 of 15 field goals, including 2 of 4 3-pointers.

Jarwand Rheubottom finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Garden City (12-5, 1-2).

Kansas Jayhawk Community

College Conference

Tonight’s games

Highland at Missouri Valley JV – Marshall, MO (W-5:30 p.m.)

Dodge City at Pratt* (W-6:00, M-8:00)

Seward County at Cloud County* (W-6:00, M-8:00)

Garden City at Colby* (W-6:00, M-8:00)

Butler at Barton County* (W-6:00, M-8:00)

Bethany College JV at Brown Mackie (W-5:00, M-7:00)

Southwestern College JV at Hesston (W-6:00, M-8:00)

MEN

Jan. 15 results

D2#11 Johnson County def Highland 70-67

#10 Coffeyville def Kansas City Kansas 84-81*

Seward County def Pratt 69-66 OT

Allen County def Labette 67-65

Dodge City def Colby 74-64

Barton County def Garden City 79-59

Butler def #1 Hutchinson 81-80

Cowley def Fort Scott 66-54

Hesston at Union College 8:30

Independence def Neosho County 94-80

WOMEN

Jan. 15

D2#1 Johnson County def Highland 82-23

Coffeyville def Kansas City KS 57-42

Seward County def Pratt 63-55

Labette def Allen County 66-47

Colby def Dodge City 81-67

Barton County def Garden City 72-70

Butler def #17 Hutchinson 55-51

Cowley def Fort Scott 68-47

Hesston def Union College 70-65 OT

#5 Independence def Neosho County 69-38