Grizzlies Begin the New Year with Win over Barton
GREAT BEND, Kan. – The No. 14 Butler Grizzlies rallied to take down the Barton Cougars to open the new calendar year.
GREAT BEND, Kan. – The No. 14 Butler Grizzlies rallied to take down the Barton Cougars to open the new calendar year.
After not playing since December 13, the Grizzlies (13-1, 7-1) took control in the second half over Barton (5-10, 3-6) to come back and win 75–65. All five Grizzly starters scored in double figures.
Barton led for most of the first half. The Grizzlies opened with a 10–6 lead, making four of their first five shots, but went cold as Barton surged ahead. The Cougars built a 32–25 halftime lead while Butler shot just 9-for-27 from the field and 2-for-10 from deep, including 0-for-4 in the second quarter.
The Grizzlies flipped a switch in the third quarter, shooting an efficient 11-for-21 from the field and 4-for-6 from three. Butler outscored Barton 26–14 in the period. Barton held a 57–56 lead with six and a half minutes left in the fourth, but the Grizzlies responded with an 11–0 run to go up 67–57, and the Cougars never recovered.
Sophomore Mya Mayberry led Butler with 17 points, knocking down five of 10 from beyond the arc. Ashley Singhateh added 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Aliyah Green scored 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Keegan Yarick contributed 12 points and six rebounds, while Kenzie Galliart rounded out the starting five with 10 points and eight boards.
Butler shot 39.4 percent from the field (26–66) and went 8-for-21 from three. Barton shot an efficient 46.7 percent, but the Grizzly defense was relentless, forcing 21 turnovers and converting them into 30 points.
The No. 14 Grizzlies now sit alone in second place in the Jayhawk Conference, trailing only No. 1 Dodge City.
Next up: Butler returns home to the Power Plant on Wednesday to host the Cowley Tigers (8-6, 4-4) at 5:30 p.m.
