BY MIKE MARZOLF
Special to the Tribune
Coach Craig Fletchall was concerned how his club would finish out the first semester.
Coming off its first loss of the season – a drubbing at No. 4 Coffeyville – and final exams over, the No. 9 Barton men's basketball team still had two games to play.
The first of those was the final home game of the semester as a solid Independence team came to the Barton Gym for Jayhawk Conference play.
Oh, and the Cougars are still without leading scorer Elijah Ford with a broken hand.
His concerns were valid.
Barton lost its second straight game as Independence left the Barton Gym with a 86-78 win. Barton is now 10-2 overall and 1-2 in the Jayhawk. Indy is 8-5 and 3-1.
"We just didn't show any energy," Coach Fletchall said. "Our guys have their bags packed and are ready to go home. We have no fight and no desire to win right now. Indy wanted it way more than we did. It's that simple. That's disappointing to me."
Barton got off to a good start, leading by as many as seven, 18-11 and 20-13 midway through the first half.
But Independence came back to take a 25-23 lead following a 12-3 run with 7:27 to play in the half.
Barton, behind the play of Diovonte Caldwell, Leondre Washington and John Williams, regained the lead into halftime.
Williams scored six points in the final 42 seconds for Barton, including a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer as Barton went to half on top 44-40.
Barton increased that lead to seven early in the second half, 51-44, but Indy responded with a 6-0 run cut the lead to 51-50 with 16 minutes left.
The Pirates would take the lead and extend it to 56-53 as Indy capped a 12-2 run with 14:20 to play.
Indy kept that slim lead over the next several minutes. The Pirates led by as many as five during that stretch. Washington cut the margin to a pair, 71-69, hitting three free throws with seven minutes to play.
Barton would tie it up the next trip down on a pair of Mavrick Gildyard free throws.
But the Cougars could not overtake the Pirates. A 7-1 run by Indy gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the game at 78-72 with five minute to play.
This time Barton didn't have a response as Indy held on for the win.
Caldwell scored 20 to lead Barton followed by Washington with 17, Williams 13 and Gildyard 12.
Indy was paced by a 20 point night for Ricky Edwards while Jibril Harris scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Sean Pollack added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Barton will travel to Neosho County Monday for the final contest of the first semester. The Panthers are 8-3 this season and are 2-1 in the Jayhawk. Tip will be 7:30 pm.
"Its between the ears," Coach Fletchall said. "Either we get it and respond or we lose another game."
Indy 86, 9 Barton 78
Indy 40 46 – 86
Barton 44 34 – 78
Independence (8-5, 3-1) 86
Edward 5-8 6-7 20, Durham 6-13 0-0 13, Pollard 3-6 2-3 8, Pollack 6-8 2-2 14, Harris 7-12 0-0 14, Torres 1-2 2-2 4, Redmon 0-2 0-0 0, Charles 2-4 1-3 5, Berry 1-8 2-2 4, Djikine 2-2 0-0 4. Totals – 33-65 14-19 86.
Barton (10-2, 1-2) 78
Vogts 2-8 0-0 5, Washington 3-7 10-11 17, Caldwell 8-14 1-3 20, Williams 4-10 4-5 13, Gildyard 4-10 4-5 12, White 1-4 3-6 5, Andrews 0-2 0-0 0, Hjohnson 0-0 1-2 1, Hunt 0-0 0-0 0, Bryson 2-5 0-0 5, Enneking 0-0 0-0 0,. Totals – 24-60 23-32 78.
3-pointers – Indy 5-17 (Edwards 4-7, Durham 1-4, Redmond 0-1, Berry 0-5), Barton 7-22 (Caldwell 3-7, Washington 1-2, Bryson 1-3, Williams 1-4, Vogts 1-5, White 0-1).
Rebounds – Indy 42 (Harris 13), Barton 32 (Gildyard 6). Assists – Indy 20 (Berry 6), Barton 9 (Washington 3). Steals – Indy 8 (Durham 3), Barton 6 (Caldwell 3). Blocks – Indy 2 (Pollack, Harris), Barton 2 (White, Gildyard).
Turnovers – Indy 15, Barton 15. Fouled Out – None. Technicals – Pollard, Indy; Caldwell, Barton.
