CHANUTE — Rebounding from their first loss of the season, the Barton Community College women’s basketball team steamrolled over Neosho County 94-65 on Saturday night.
“I thought we came out with a lot of energy, focus and intensity,” Barton head coach Carter Kruger said. “It was the first time I felt like we put together 40 complete minutes in a game.
“We were really disappointed with how we played (Friday). We used that as fuel to play (on Saturday).”
Barton led 45-35 at intermission and kept pouring on points in the second half.
Cheyenne Hedrington led Barton with 18 points, one of five Lady Cougars in double figures. She shot 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.
“She has been the most consistent player in practice, and that has really carried over into her game,” Kruger said of the freshman forward. “We don’t have a lot of plays set up for her to score, but she’s just been great on the glass, which has given her a lot of chances.”
Barton’s leading scorer Ashton Bruner, who averages 16.3 pointer per game, was held to three points, but Barton had several other players step up.
“Ashton was missing some shots that she usually doesn’t, and she got into a little early foul trouble,” Kruger said. “They were really keying in on her dribble, so she kind of switched to distributor and a rebounder for us.
“Last year, she’d still have to force up shots, but this year, we have a lot of talent that can pick up scoring for her if she’s having an off night.”
Sophomore Taylor Mayes added 14 points and eight rebounds for Barton, and Brandy Winbush came off the bench for 14 points, sinking four 3-pointers.
Phikala Anthony scored 13 points, and Mariana Lambert nearly missed a double-double with 10 points and a team-leading nine boards.
“We challenged them before the game to step up,” Kruger said of his bench, “because we have a lot of talent there, and it hasn’t always showed in games. They had a very good game for us tonight.”
Kailai Brantner scored eight points and had 11 assists in her second game back from a concussion.
“She had a great game,” Kruger said of the sophomore point guard. “This was her second game back. She came off the bench on Friday, but she looked a little rusty, but (against Neosho) she looked great out there.”
Friday
Allen County 79, Barton 69
A pair of double-doubles didn’t help Barton avoid its first loss of the season on Friday afternoon as Allen County took a 43-32 lead into intermission and held on to win.
Hedringon finished with a career-high 25 points and 17 rebounds, going 12-for-20 from the field to lead the Lady Cougars.
Bruner finished with 15 points and 10 boards.
Winbush added nine points.
— Kevin Price
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NCCC Basketball Classic
WOMEN
Saturday
At Chanute
Barton 94, Neosho County 65
BARTON (7-1)
Sharyce Warren 1-9 3-4 6, Brandy Winbush 5-12 0-0 14, Alexis Ryan 0-0 0-0 0, Kailai Brantner 2-4 4-5 8, Tori Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Raven Walker 0-1 0-1 0, Ashton Bruner 1-7 1-3 3, Cheyenne Hedrington 6-11 6-8 18, Mariana Lambert 4-12 0-0 10, KK Anthony 5-9 3-3 13, Bethany Bowman 1-1 0-0 2, Taylor Mayes 5-10 4-6 14, Ciera Lampe 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 32-81 21-30 94.
NEOSHO COUNTY
Marilyn Goss 0-7 2-2 2, Carolina Alfonso 0-0 0-0 0, Madigan Gonzales 0-0 1-2 1, Daryane Yarbrough 0-0 0-2 0, Mackenzie Dunbar 0-1 2-8 2, Aslhey Grant 5-16 3-7 13, Danel Stithem 4-15 5-8 15, Jaycee Fourkiller 3-6 3-3 10, Dena English 0-4 0-0 0, Danielle Randle 9-21 1-2 20, Ashlynn Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Cenyssa Williams 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 22-76 17-34 65.
Halftime — Barton 45, Neosho County 35. Three-point goals — Barton 9-25 (Winbush 4-10, Lambert 2-8, Lampe 2-2, Warren 1-4); Neosho County 4-21 (Stithem 2-10, Fourkiller 1-3, Randle 1-2, English 0-4). Rebounds — Barton 67 (Lambert 9); Neosho County 62 (English 11). Assists — Barton 24 (Brantner 11); Neosho County 9 (Randle, Dunbar 3). Steals — Barton 9 (Warren 4); Neosho County 8 (Gonzales 4). Total fouls — Barton 26; Neosho County 22. Turnovers — Barton 13; Neosho County 17.
