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NO TIME TO STRUGGLE
Barton travels to Pratt tonight to meet Beavers
spt mm Kurt Walker
Kurt Walker (4) looks to throw an entry pass into the lane during Bartons win over Colby last Saturday night. Walker had six assists in that game. BCC travels to Pratt tonight. - photo by Mack McClure Great Bend Tribune

This is no time to stumble.
No time to come out flat against an opponent you’re supposed to beat, one that’s dwelling near the cellar of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division.
The Barton Cougars, 23-5 overall and 9-5 in conference play, are tied for third place in the West with Cloud County, two games back of league-leading Seward County (11-3) and one game behind Hutchinson (10-4).
The Cougars travel to Pratt (12-16, 3-11) tonight at 8, following the women’s game at 6.
No time to struggle against the second-to-last-place team in the West.
“Pratt has definitely improved through the second round of the conference,” Barton head coach Craig Fletchall said. “They won a couple games last week that is probably going to push them into the (NJCAA Region VI) playoffs as the eighth seed.
“They’ve got several sophomores that shoot the ball well, so I think they’re going to be similar to Colby. If their 3-point shooters are on, they’re going to be difficult to beat down there.”
The Cougars wore down Colby in an 84-69 victory at Kirkman Activity Center on Saturday night, getting big games from freshman guard Algie Key and sophomore power forward Dwayne Brunson. Key scored a career-high 32 points, hitting 10 of 18 field goals and 12 of 14 free throws, and Brunson had 23 points, hitting 10 of 19 shots, and grabbing a team-high 14 rebounds.
Freshman guard Turon Parker scored all 13 of his points in the second half against Colby, and Key and guard Kurt Walker each had six assists.
“This week is going to be big, as far as the playoffs are concerned,” Fletchall said. “It’s one of those years where first through fourth are still wide-open. We’ll finish at least fourth.
“Seward has a two-game lead with two games to play, but you never know ... the games keep getting bigger and bigger.”
Seward County, ranked No. 13 in the latest NJCAA Division-I poll, plays host to Butler tonight before clashing with No. 19 Hutchinson at the Sports Arena on Saturday night.
Hutchinson takes on Cloud County in Concordia tonight.
Cloud County travels to Great Bend Saturday night.