DODGE CITY — With Dodge City Community College vying for an upset, the Conquistadors tied the Barton Cougars at 40 with 14 minutes remaining in the second half on Wednesday night.
Dodge hit a wall after that, and Barton avoided the upset bug in a big way.
The Cougars ended up blowing the Conqs out of United Wireless Arena, unleashing a 26-2 outburst over the next nine minutes to win 73-53.
“We started attacking the basket a lot better in the second half and it was a good road win for us,” Barton head coach Craig Fletchall said.
Barton improves to 20-4 overall, including 7-3 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division.
Al Key, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, scored a game-high 30 points, including 17 in the second half.
Key, a third-team NJCAA All-America selection last season, hit 10 of 18 shots, including 2-for-3 on 3-pointers, and 8 of 11 free throws.
Barton point guard Turon Parker added 13 points and Shaka Thomas made all four of his shots, including 3-for-3 on 3s, and totaled 11 points.
Thomas’ 3 at the 13:39 mark started the Cougars’ decisive run, giving them a 43-40 lead.
“I’ll tell you what, Shaka hit three 3s and Trey (Unrau) hit one and that gave us a little cushion,” Fletchall said. “Defensively, I thought we were really sound.
“They only shot 22 percent in the first half and it was only a one-possession game. Ideally, we have to put some points in the basket. It was too close for comfort.”
Dodge City, led by Delvon Rencher’s 12 points, drops to 12-12, 4-6.
“It’s a tough place to play,” Fletchall said. “They were 9-2 at home."
Andell Cumberbatch narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and 13 rebounds.
Barton returns home on Saturday night to entertain Garden City. It tips at 7:30 at Kirkman Activity Center.

                           — Mack McClure

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kansas Jayhawk Community
College Conference
Western Division

MEN

Wednesday

At Dodge City
United Wireless Arena

Barton Community College 73, Dodge City 53
BARTON (20-4, 7-3)
     Algie Key 10-18 8-11 30, Turon Parker 3-11 7-8 13, Shaka Thomas 4-4 0-0 11, Andell Cumberbatch 4-10 1-6 9, Trey Unrau 1-1 0-1 3, Raheem Johnson 1-6 1-2 3, Rapheal Stephens 1-3 0-0 2, Kevin Kuteyi 0-2 2-2 2, John Goodson 0-1 0-0 0, Travell Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Andy Wiechman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-57 19-30 73.
DODGE CITY (12-12, 4-6)
     Delvon Rencher 4-10 4-8 12, Aaron Tate 1-4 8-10 10, Vic    Adams 3-12 1-2 8, Connor Carman 2-2 0-0 6, Keith Crockett 2-13 0-1 6, Greg Travis 0-4 4-4 4, A.J. Downing 1-4 2-2 4, Jacoby Green 1-4 1-2 3, Tyler Francis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-54 20-29 53.
     Halftime — Barton 32 , Dodge City 29. Three-point goals — Barton 6-12 (Thomas 3-3, Key 2-3, Unrau 1-1, Kevin Kuteyi 0-1, Wiechman 0-1, Cumberbatch 0-1, Parker 0-2); Dodge City 5-21 (Crockett 2-8, Carman 2-2, Adams 1-7, Green 0-3, Travis 0-1). Rebounds — Barton 48 (Cumberbatch 13); Dodge City 35 (Jacoby Green 8). Assists — Barton 11 (Parker 5), Dodge City 9 (Crockett 3). Total fouls — Barton 24, Dodge City CC 20. Fouled out — None.