This Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division basketball game had all of the earmarks of a blowout.
Barton built early leads of 9-2, 21-5 and 24-7 on Wednesday night at Kirkman Activity Center during first-half action with Cloud County.
The early runaway suddenly stopped. The Thunderbirds went on a 17-4 run during the final 6:27 of the half to get back into contention, trailing 28-24 at the break.
“We just stopped attacking,” Barton head coach Craig Fletchall said. “Cloud picked up the pressure and they really get up and guard defensively.
“Turon (Parker, Barton’s point guard) going to bench with two fouls, we don’t score the final five minutes of the first half.”
The Cougars would ultimately get the blowout, a 60-41 romp after limiting the T-Birds to only 17 second-half points.
“Cloud got some momentum and I really thought as cliche’ as it may be, I thought the biggest possession of the game was the first possession of the second half,” Fletchall said.
“I thought our guys had a good focus, and we almost got a shot-clock violation (on Cloud). We got down in our stance, and we played mostly man-to-man defense in the second half … it’s as good as man-to-man as we’ve played.”
Parker had a team-high 15 points, including 3-for-4 shooting from distance. Twelve of his points came after intermission.
Al Key and Andell Cumberbatch added 13 points apiece, as Barton improved to 19-3 overall, 6-2 in conference play and moved into a second-place tie in the division race after Seward County (6-2) lost to Hutchinson 87-74 on Wednesday night.
Seward County is the Cougars’ next opponent, coming on Saturday night at home, starting at 7:30.
The Cougars, who shot only 29.4 percent in the first half (10 for 34), improved to 42.9 percent after halftime to finish 22 for 62 for the game (35.5 percent).
Parker and backup guard Shaka Thomas each hit a pair of 3s during a 14-2 second-half blitz, giving the Cougars a commanding 46-31 lead with 12:06 remaining.
The T-Birds (12-10, 3-5) managed only 10 points thereafter.
“Before Turon hit a couple 3s, I know we were 1-for-10 after going 1-for-6 in the first half ,” Fletchall said. “Al is going to start seeing so much pressure that we’ve got to get some people open on the perimeter.
“Shaka and Turon stepped up and hit some big ones.”
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kansas Jayhawk Community
College Conference
Western Division
MEN
Wednesday
At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center
LT & Sheila Fleske Court
No. 19 Barton Community College 60,
Cloud County 41
CLOUD COUNTY (12-10, 3-5)
Edward Dyson 4-16 6-6 15, Gerrae Williams 4-10 3-3 13, Alioune Mboup 2-7 0-0 4, Marcus Fillyaw 1-6 1-2 3, James Williams 1-3 1-4 3, Marvin Smith 1-5 0-0 2, Rodrick Robinson 0-3 1-2 1, Connor McDaniel 0-2 0-0 0, Emka Okoronkwo 0-0 0-0 0, Isaiah Anaekwe 0-1 0-2 0, Derek Henry 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 13-54 12-19 41.
BARTON (19-3, 6-2)
Turon Parker 5-13 2-4 15, Algie Key 4-12 5-6 13, Andell Cumberbatch 6-15 1-2 13, Shaka Thomas 2-6 0-0 6, Raheem Johnson 2-6 2-2 6, Kevin Kuteyi 2-5 0-0 4, Trey Unrau 1-3 0-0 3, Dominique Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Rapheal Stephens 0-1 0-1 0, John Goodson 0-0 0-0 0, Travell Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Andy Wiechman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-62 10-15 60.
Halftime—Barton 28, Cloud County 24. Three-point goals—Cloud County 3-13 (G. Williams 2-4, Dyson 1-3, Fillyaw 0-2, J. Williams 0-1, Smith 0-1, McDaniel 0-1, Henry 0-1); Barton 6-18 (Parker 3-4, Thomas 2-5, Unrau 1-3, Kuteyi 0-2, Wiechman 0-1, Cumberbatch 0-2, Key 0-1). Rebounds—Cloud County 45 (Williams 12); Barton 40 (Cumberbatch 17). Assists—Cloud County 6 (Dyson 2, Williams 2); Barton 9 (Parker 3). Steals—Barton 13 (Cumberbatch 3, Key 3); Cloud County 7 (Williams, Fillyaw, Dyton). Turnovers—Cloud County 23, Barton 14. Total fouls—Barton 16, Cloud County 15. Fouled out—Cloud County (None); Barton (Johnson).
