LIBERAL — Things neither started well, nor ended well for the Barton Community College women’s basketball team on Saturday night.
The result was a 70-59 loss to Seward County to start the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Western Division season.
Barton falls to 10-4 overall, 0-1 in the West. Seward improves to 10-4, 1-0.
The Lady Saints got out to a 9-2 lead straight out of the gate, leaving the Lady Cougars, who never led in the game, trying to play catch up the rest of the night.
“We knew they would (come out quick),” Barton head coach Carter Kruger said. “It’s their first home conference game, so they came out with a lot of energy, and I thought we weathered the storm pretty well. We got back into the game.
“We just know that we have to get out to a good start, too.”
Trailing by as much as 13 in the game, Barton was able to close the gap to 34-30 before halftime on a 3-pointer from sophomore point guard Erin Copeland and a bucket from freshman post player Jackie Bueno, who went 4-for-5 from the floor for a career-high eight points.
“Every day, she’s had great practices,” Kruger said of Bueno. “To be honest, she came back from break a completely different person. She’s been practicing well, and I told her I want to see more.”
Ashton Bruner led the Lady Cougars with 21 points. She had eight rebounds.
Seward started the second half on an 11-2 run as it quickly extended its lead.
Seward, which went 9-for-9 collectively from the free-throw line, was led by Fabiana Monte’s 18 points. She made 4 of 9 3-pointers.
Barton continues its KJCCC West schedule, hosting Dodge City on Monday evening at 5:30 on the new LT & Sheila Fleske Court at Kirkman Activity Center. The men’s game follows at 7:30.
— Kevin Price
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
Western Division
WOMEN
At Liberal
The Greenhouse
Saturday
Seward County 70, Barton 59
BARTON (10-4, 0-1)
Ashton Bruner 6-11 9-16 21, Ta’Kerra Williams 3-12 0-0 6, Kaiilai Brantner 0-6 2-2 2, Blair Bloomfield 2-7 0-2 4, Taschell Phillips 1-4 0-0 2, Brandy Winbush 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Keith 1-3 0-0 3, Jackie Bueno 4-5 0-0 8, Taylor Mayes 1-6 2-2 4, Erin Copeland 4-6 0-2 9. Totals 22-60 13-24 59.
SEWARD COUNTY (10-4, 1-0)
Shanise Brooks 0-5 0-0 0, Marta Oledzka 7-14 2-2 16, Ricquia Jones 2-5 4-4 8, Fabiana Monte 6-13 2-2 18, Madison McLain 3-16 0-0 6, Kelsey Blair 3-7 0-0 8, Anete Kirsteine 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Burns 0-2 0-0 0, Jaleasa Jones 1-3 0-0 3, Sheree Ryan 2-7 0-0 4, Janel Tammen 3-5 1-1 7. Totals 27-77 9-9 70.
Halftime — Seward County 34, Barton 30. Three-point goals — Seward County 7-24 (Monte 4-9, Blair 2-6, K. Jones 1-1, McLain 0-4, R. Jones 0-2, Burns 0-2). Rebounds — Seward County 52 (Oledzka 9); Barton 44 (Bloomfield 9). Assists — Seward County 21 (R. Jones 6); Barton 11 (Brantner 6). Turnovers — Barton 22; Seward County 21. Total fouls — Seward County 16; Barton 15. Fouled out — None.
