The No. 11-ranked Barton Community College men’s basketball team enters the holiday break with an unblemished 14-0 record.
In Saturday’s finale of the Best Western Angus Inn Basketball Classic at Kirkman Activity Center, Barton held off a pesky Brown Mackie squad for an 85-73 victory.
One wouldn’t know that the Cougars were undefeated by the way BCC head coach Craig Fletchall lamented to his team during a timeout late in the second half.
After all, a once-comfortable 53-31 BCC halftime lead was carved down to 79-69 with 2:12 remaining after Thad Rideau drained a 3-pointer from the deep left corner.
But the Cougars stood strong in the waning moments in keeping their unbeaten winning string going.
“I was just disappointed in our lack of composure,” Fletchall said of his bench banter in the late going. “Brown Mackie, year-in and year-out, those kids have a lot of fight and we knew they weren’t going to quit.
“No one is going to give it to us and it was a really well-played first half. I thought it was the best half we have played this year at home.”
To be sure, the Cougars were clicking on all cylinders in the opening 20 minutes. With the game tied at 13 near the 15-minute mark, the Cougars unleashed a devastating 25-6 run for a 38-19 with eight minutes left in the half.
But complacency kicked in for Barton as it tried to maintain its big margin after the break.
“In the second half, we just didn’t finish and had guys that were upset because they individually weren’t having the type of games that they wanted to.”
Barton had four players in double-figure scoring, including 22 points from point guard Algie Key and 18 apiece from swingmen Carl Wallace and Darius Hill. Wallace finished with a double-double as he had 10 rebounds, and shooting guard Jalen Boyd finished with 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Brown Mackie (5-7) was led by Rideau with 20 points.
Barton returns to action after the holidays, playing host to Seward on Jan. 4 at 8 p.m.
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Best Western-Angus Inn
Basketball Classic
At Great Bend
Barton Community College
Kirkman Activity Center
MEN
Saturday
Barton 85, Brown Mackie 73
BROWN MACKIE (5-7)
Thad Rideau 8-21 2-3 20, Wendell Pierre 8-17 0-1 16, Royal Crouch 3-8 0-1 6, James Brown 1-4 0-1 4, Adam Mughmaw 7-11 3-7 17, Brandon Graham 0-0 2-2 2, Jarrett Ragland 0-0 0-0 0, Phil Barner 0-0 0-0 0, Robert Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Jermaine Howard 0-2 0-0 , Kendall Hays 0-8 0-0 0, Gary Martin 0-2 10-15 10. Totals 27-73 17-30 73.
BARTON (14-0)
Jalen Boyd 5-7 3-7 15, Algie Key 8-14 5-8 22, Dwayne Brunson 1-9 0-1 3, Carl Wallace 5-10 7-9 18, Darius Hill 6-12 5-6 18, Jonathan Pittman 2-4 0-0 4, Kurt Walker 0-1 0-0 0, Andell Cumberbatch 2-5 1-3 5, Shaka Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Julian Rose 0-2 0-0 0, DaVonte Grant 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 29-65 22-36 85.
Halftime score — Barton 53, Brown Mackie 31. Three-point goals — Barton 5-10 (Boyd 2-4, Key 1-1, Wallace 1-1, Hill 1-1, Walker 0-1, Rose 0-1, Grant 0-1); Brown Mackie 2-11 (Rideau 2-7, Crouch 0-2, Howard 0-1, Hays 0-1). Rebounds — Barton 55 (Wallace 10, Brunson 9); Brown Mackie 47 (Mughmaw 11, Rideau 9). Assists — Barton 14 (Key 5, Wallace 4); Brown Mackie 12 (Pierre 3, Brown 3). Turnovers — Barton 21, Brown Mackie 18. Blocked shots — Barton 7 (Brunson 4); Brown Mackie 7 (Rideau 3).
Best Western Angus Inn
Basketball Classic
At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center
Saturday’s results
MEN
Pratt 45, Fort Scott 26
Barton 85, Brown Mackie 73
WOMEN
Brown Mackie 49, Fort Scott 60
Barton 63, Independence 61
Friday’s results
MEN
Pratt 83, Brown Mackie 68
Barton 71, Fort Scott 56
WOMEN
Indy 65, Brown Mackie 61 (OT)
Barton 50, Fort Scott 47
