Fast paced, high scoring and, at times, a bit wild.
That is how the Neosho women's basketball team likes to play.
The key for the Barton women Wednesday night in the first round Region VI matchup with Neosho was not so much to slow it down, but to play under control and get good shots. Don't get caught up in the furious pace.
For the most part, the Cougars did just that in a 114-102 win to move to the next round.
Jaylin Stapleton added her name to the record book one more time in her final game at the Barton Gym, scoring a career-high 40 points thanks to a school-record 17-of-19 effort at the free throw line.
As a team, Barton set a school record by making 42-of-50 free throws.
The win sets up a battle with Cowley in quarterfinal action at Hartman Arena in Park City Saturday. Cowley had a big lead on Colby, but had to hold on for a 70-67 win in Arkansas City.
The Cougars and Tigers will play the second game of the day, a 3 pm tip off. Cowley, second seed from the East, beat Barton back in early December, 90-73, in Ark City.
In the opening period, the Panthers sped up Barton enough to force the Cougars into six turnovers in the first 10 minutes. When they didn't turn it over, the Cougars shot a blistering 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-5 free throws. After that first period, Barton led just 26-22.
Barton tried to take control of the game early in the second, scoring the first six points to a double digit lead. But Neosho battled back to make it 32-28.
The Cougars once again looked to establish themselves after the 6-0 Panther run. Barton went on a 14-0 run to push the lead to 46-28.
During that run, Barton turned the ball over just once and scored on six of eight possessions. Mallory Miller hit a couple treys and Taylor Regan added four points.
That run keyed a 33-point second quarter for Barton and the Cougars went to half on top 59-45.
The offensive numbers were impressive to say the least. Barton hit 20-of-35 from the field, 5-of-11 on 3's and 14-of-17 at the free throw line.
But 12 Barton turnovers resulted in 16 points for the Panthers to keep the visitors in the game.
Barton led comfortably most of the second half. But the Cougars had trouble delivering the knock out punch.
Neosho finally put some fear in Barton early in the final period. The Panthers went on an 8-0 run in the period to cut the led down to 87-82 with still seven minutes left in the game.
Taylor Nichols ended the run with a jumper. Regan added a basket the next trip down the floor. Stapleton made a pair of free throws and the lead was to double figures at 93-82 with 5:30 left.
The lead hung around the 10-point mark. When Regan scored on a putback with 2:10 to play, Barton led comfortably, 104-90.
As expected, Barton had some huge offensive numbers.
Two Cougars topped the 30-point mark. Stapleton led Barton with those 40 points, the second most in school history. That is just two shy of the school record of 42 by Wendy Okeson.
Miller finished with 31 and tied a school record. She hit a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line for most free throws made in a game without a miss. That matched Regan's 12-for-12 effort last season.
Regan finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds while White added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The 42-of-50 free throws topped the mark for makes and attempts set in 1998 in a 37-of-49 effort against Three Rivers.
As a team, Barton shot 50 percent from the floor, hitting 32-of-64 from the field.
Now its on the Hartman Arena and quarterfinal action. The first game of the day will feature No. 3 ranked and the top seed from the West Seward against . The Barton-Cowley winner will play the Seward-Cloud County winner in semifinal action Monday at 1 pm.
Barton 114, Neosho 102
Neosho 22 23 29 28 – 102
Barton 26 33 28 27 – 114
Neosho (9-22) 102
Hinz 8-21 10-11 26, Jones 6-10 0-0 15, Casher 0-4 1-2 1, Augustin 2-7 5-5 10, Brown 7-15 0-0 19, Chiles 2-4 0-0 4, Stewart 7-17 0-0 17, Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Stiger 0-4 4-4 4, Bolen 0-0 0-0 0, Richards 0-0 0-0 0, Birch 0-2 0-0 0, Dillinger 2-3 0-0 4. Totals – 35-90 20-22 102.
Barton (22-9) 114
White 5-10 3-4 13, Stapleton 10-16 17-19 40, Regan 5-9 6-8 19, Miller 7-11 12-12 31, Chukwudi 1-1 0-0 2, Turney 1-5 1-2 3, Keith 0-2 0-0 0, Ndao 1-2 3-4 5, Dirks 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Nichols 2-7 0-1 4. Totals – 32-64 42-50 114.
3-pointers – Neosho 12-32 (Brown 5-10, Jones 3-7, Stewart 3-7, Augustin 1-5, Stiger 0-1, Hinz 0-2), Barton 8-20 (Miller 5-8, Stapleton 3-6, Burney 0-1, Nichols 0-1, White 0-2, Keith 0-2).
Rebounds – Neosho 42 (Hinz 10), Barton 46 (Regan 13, White 10). Assists – Neosho 12 (5 with 2); Barton 17 (Stapleton 5). Steals – Neosho 12 (4 with 2), Barton 8 (Reagn, White 2). Blocks – Neosho 5 (Hinz 3), Barton 10 (Chukwudi 5).
Turnovers – Neosho 12, Barton 19. Fouled Out – Augustin, Casher, Neosho. Technicals – None.
