The Barton men’s basketball flexed its muscle against a pair of Region VI Division II foes this past weekend at the Best Western/Booster Club Classic at the Barton Gym.
The Cougars rolled by Highland the opening night by a 69-54 count then blew out Hesston Saturday night by an 80-54 score.
The sweep keeps Barton unbeaten on the season at 3-0. Hesston is now 1-2 and Highland 1-1.
Barton trailed just twice the entire weekend for a total of just more than three minutes.
“I was pleased with the weekend,” Coach Craig Fletchall said. “You always want more as a coach, but overall I was pleased.
“We just have to remember that we were at home playing games we expect to win. That will change very quickly with the conference starting early this year.”
The win Friday was the 350th of the collegiate career for Coach Fletchall and the win Saturday was the 250th at Barton, where he is the all-time wins leaders.
Friday a 9-0 run gave the Cougars a 9-2 lead and they never trailed again. The Scotties did cut it to one on a couple of occasions – the latest at 16-15 at the midway point of the half. The Cougars would give up just four more points the rest of the half as Barton built a 31-19 halftime lead.
The lead grew to 41-19 following 10-0 run capped by a Malik Rhodes 3-pointer to start the second half. The lead would be at least 14 the rest of the way.
Ezekiel Charles, fresh off a 31-point opener, led Barton again. He nearly pulled off a triple double with 13 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Malik Toppin had a big night as well with 13 rebounds and five blocks to go with six points. Anthony Smith scored 12 off the bench and Charles Norman added 10.
“Malik Toppin help set the tone to start the second half,” Coach Fletchall said. “He changed some shots and pretty much held them to one and done on the boards.”
Saturday Hesston took a brief 12-11 lead before Barton went on a 14-3 run to re-take the lead for good. By halftime it was 39-28. The Cougars outscored Hesston 41-26 the final 20 minutes including a 17-0 run to start the half.
This time is was Rhodes leading the way with 18, hitting 4-of-8 3-pointers. Keeshawn Palmer scored 12 off the bench and finished with a game-high 13 rebounds. John Barbee added 10 off the bench. Palmer and Barbee each had three steals as well.
Jahlil Rawley led Barton with five assists to go with nine points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The Cougars wrap up the non-conference season Wednesday when the Sterling JV comes to the Barton Gym. The Cougars are off to Colby Saturday to start Jayhawk Conference play.

Barton 69, Highland 54
Highland 19 35 54
Barton 31 38 69
Highland (54)
S Jackson 0-12 2-2 2, O’Connor 3-6 3-6 9, English 2-8 4-8 8, Scudder 0-2 0-2 0, Harvey 0-2 0-0 0, Daniels 9-10 3-4 24, A Jackson 0-4 2-4 2, Haskins 1-4 0-0 3, Jasper 1-2 0-0 3, Peabody 1-2 1-2 3, Davis 0-1 0-0 0. Total – 17-54 15-28 54.
Barton (69)
Norman 2-11 5-8 10, Rhodes 2-10 2-2 8, Toppin 3-4 0-0 6, Palmer 3-4 3-4 9, Charles 5-12 2-4 13, Smith 4-10 4-7 12, Rawley 1-6 0-0 3, Haist 2-3 0-0 4, Barbee 0-1 0-0 0, Poole 1-3 0-0 3, Webster 0-0 1-2 1. Totals – 23-64 17-27 69.
3-pointers –Highland 5-22 (Daniels 3-3, Jasper 1-2, Haskins 1-3, Jackson 0-11, English 0-3). Barton 6-29 (Rhodes 2-7, Poole 1-3, Rawley 1-4, Charles 1-6, Norman 1-7, Smith 0-2).
Rebounds –Highland 47 (Daniels 10). Barton 40 (Toppin 13). Assists –Highland 6 (S Jackson, O’Connor 2). Barton 17 (Charles 8). Steals –Highland 3 (Daniels 2). Barton 6 (Toppin 5). Blocks – Highland 1 (Jackson); Barton 6 (Toppin 5).
Turnovers –Highland 18, Barton 10. Fouled out – Scudder, Harvey, Highland; Palmer, Barton. Technicals – Highland Bench.

Barton 80, Hesston 54
Hesston 28 26 54
Barton 39 41 80
Hesston (54)
Ladwig 2-6 0-0 5, Means 2-7 3-4 8, Agnew 1-7 2-2 5, Holt 3-8 2-6 9, Neely 4-5 0-1 8, Campbell 2-5 2-3 7, Comfort 1-4 0-1 2, Buchanon 1-4 0-2 2, Johnson 3-4 0-0 7, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Harris 0-1 0-0 0. Total – 19-52 9-19 54.
Barton (80)
Norman 4-10 1-1 9, Rhodes 6-11 2-4 18, Rawley 3-7 3-5 9, Smith 2-3 2-4 6, Charles 3-19 1-3 7, Palmer 5-7 2-3 12, Toppin 2-8 3-4 7, Barbee 3-6 3-3 10, Poole 1-2 0-0 2, Webster 0-2 0-0 0, Haist 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 29-66 16-26 80.
3-pointers –Hesston 7-17 (Neely 1-1, Ladwig 1-2, Means 1-2, Agnew 1-2, Holt 1-2, Campbell 1-2, Johnson 1-2, Smith 0-1, Comfort 0-3). Barton 6-21 (Rhodes 4-8, Barbee 2-3, Norman 0-3, Charles 0-3, Webster 0-1, Toppin 0-1, Poole 0-1, Palmer 0-1).
Rebounds – Hesston 41 (Agnew 9); Barton 43 (Palmer 13). Assists – Hesston 10 (Holt, Campbell, Comfort 2); Barton 9 (Rawley 5). Steals – Hesston 2 (Means, Holt). Barton 15 (Barbee, Palmer 3). Blocks – Hesston 1 (Buchanon); Barton 6 (Rawley, Palmer 2).
Fouls – Hesston 25, Barton 21. Turnovers – Hesston 24, Barton 12. Fouled out – Neely, Hesston. Technicals – Neely, Hesston.