Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference commissioner Bryce Roderick is going to be in attendance for Barton’s game with the Butler Grizzlies, which is set for Saturday night at Kirkman Activity Center. The women’s game tips off at 5:30, followed by the men’s game at 7:30.
“That was already in my plans at the first of the week,” said Roderick, reached by phone early Thursday afternoon at his headquarters in Arkansas City.
Besides being able to take a gander at Barton’s newly installed LT & Sheila Fleske Court, Roderick can also follow up on compiling information from Barton on the near-melee that transpired on Wednesday night in the aftermath of the No. 9-ranked Cougars’ 66-47 upset loss to Garden City.
Players, coaches and administrators from both teams had to be separated and sent to their respective locker rooms by uniformed police officers after things got out of hand at Garden City’s Dennis Perryman Athletic Center.
Roderick says he is still getting information on what happened.
“I heard about it last night after the game,” Roderick said. “I have requested information from both institutions and still getting that information. Everything that I’ve heard from both institutions, there were no punches thrown.
“Obviously, we play so rapidly here that sometimes it takes a little while to catch up. I have asked everybody to have me all of the information by (Saturday) at noon.”
Going into Saturday’s action, Barton’s men are 15-2 overall, 2-1 in the Jayhawk West.
The Lady Cougars are 11-5, 1-2.

• Uncharacteristic Cougars
Barton’s calling card during a 15-1 start was playing with an uptempo style and a high level of emotion.
Against Garden City, the Cougars had neither in getting dealt their first conference loss of the season.
Entering the game with an 88.8 points-per-game scoring average, Barton finished more than 40 points under their norm.

• Coming up
Saturday night’s tilt with West foe Butler marks the Cougars’ fourth game over a seven-day stretch. The Grizzlies (13-3, 1-1), who received votes in the latest NJCAA poll, lost at home on Wednesday night, 81-67 to Hutchinson.

• Unbeaten, No. 2 ranked
West powerhouse Hutchinson has moved from fourth to second in the most recent NJCAA national poll, behind No. 1-ranked Chipola College, based in Marianna Fla. ... Hutchinson (17-0 overall) sits in first place in the West at 3-0, followed by Cloud County (2-0). ... Barton travels to Hutch on Wednesday night to take on the Dragons at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The women’s game starts at 5:30, followed by the men’s game at 7:30. ... Another East stronghold, Coffeyville, 13-1, 2-0, is ranked No. 10.

NJCAA Division-I
Top-10 rankings
 1. Chipola College
 2. Hutchinson Community College
 3. Palm Beach State College
 4. Vincennes University
 5. Iowa Western Community College
 6. Spartanburg Methodist College
 7. Northwest Florida State College
 8. Howard College
 9. Barton Community College
10. Coffeyville Community College