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Lady Cougars fall behind early in loss to Independence
Junior College Basketball
spt kp Barton w Saturday bench
Barton Community College head womens basketball coach Carter Kruger talks to his team late in a game against Independence at Kirkman Activity Center during the Best Western Angus Inn/Cougar Booster Club Thanksgiving Basketball Classic - photo by Kevin Price Great Bend Tribune

A quick run from the Independence Community College women’s basketball team in the first half and Barton was playing catch up for the rest of the game.
The Lady Cougars couldn’t muster a rally, falling 92-84.
Barton found itself in foul trouble early on.
Ashton Bruner, Cheyenne Hedrington and Taylor Mayes each got two fouls quickly, and played limited minutes in the first half.
“Biggest thing I was worried about going in,” Barton head coach Carter Kruger said of fouls. “It worked out exactly how Independence wanted it to. We put them on the line, way too much, and put ourselves on the bench.”
All-in-all, Barton committed 28 fouls, with Bruner fouling out.
At 18-4 run early on for Independence put Barton on its heels in the first half, trailing 32-18 with 9:47 remaining.
Independence hit 4 of 6 3-pointers in first half, keeping the Lady Cougars at arm’s length.
However, the Lady Cougars drew to within nine points at intermission, trailing 46-37.
Barton kept it close thanks to the scoring performances from KK Anthony and Kailai Brantner.
Anthony scored a team-leading 22 points.
“She really stepped up when we were struggling,” Kruger said. “She played hard, and really stepped up on the defensive side of the floor. She carried us there, especially in the first half.
“Our plan was to get in there and attack them, and she went in and certainly did that.”
Brantner added 20 points and eight assists.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Best Western Angus Inn/Cougar Boost Club Thanksgiving Basketball Classic

WOMEN

Saturday

At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center

Independence 92, Barton 84
INDEPENDENCE (7-2)
     Bethany Barlow 2-4 0-0 4, Kelsey Larson 2-7 0-0 6, Jasmine Martindale 6-11 2-2 14, Sabrina Berry 14-23 6-11 34, Mariana Duran 1-3 2-5 4, Courtney Smith 1-1 0-0 3, Michaela O’Brien 0-1 0-0 0, Didem Nakas 4-5 9-10 19, Deja Robinson 2-6 3-5 8. Totals 32-61 22-33.
BARTON (9-2)
     Ashton Bruner 3-5 1-2 7; Cheyenne Hedrington 6-9 1-1 13, Taylor Mayes 3-7 1-2 7, Kailai Brantner 9-14 2-5 20, Mariana Lambert 4-11 1-3 11, Sharyce Warren 1-3 0-0 2, Brandy Winbush 1-4 0-0 2, Victoria Davis 0-1 0-0 0, KK Anthony 7-15 8-10 22, Bethany Bowman 0-0 0-0 0, Ciera Lampe 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 34-71 14-23 84.
     Halftime — Independence 46, Barton 37. Three-point goals — Independence 6-10 (Larson 2-4, Nakas 2-2, Robinson 1-2, Smith 1-1, Duran 0-1); Barton 2-12 (Lambert 2-6, Winbush 0-3, Warren 0-1). Rebound — Independence 44 (Robinson 11); Barton 35 (Lambert 7). Assists — Independence 22 (Larson 9); Barton 13 (Brantner 8). Steals — Independence 5 (Smith, Nakas 2); Barton 6 (Anthony 2). Total fouls — Independence 24; Barton 28. Turnovers — Independence 17; Barton 9.