By MIKE KESSINGER

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mkessinger@gctelegram.com

The chance was there.

All the Garden City Community College Broncbusters needed was a win and they would be in sole possession of fourth place in the Jayhawk Conference West Division.

With a standout game by Chris Jackson and Chip Steven though, Barton County just wouldn't let it happen as the Cougars left Perryman Athletic Complex on Saturday with a 81-73 win. The loss is Garden City's third straight, and the Busters are now a game back of Barton County in the conference standings at fourth and fifth. The Busters must finish in the top four of the conference to host a home game in the first round of the Region VI tournament that starts in two weeks.

After Saturday's loss, Busters point guard Jordan Ragan is certain of what Garden City (17-9, 6-7) must do for a home game in the playoffs.

"We have to run the table," Ragan said. "We have to come out hard and not give up on the year. There's still a reach we can still make noise in the regionals. All we have to do is come out hard."

Handed a loss from the Busters the first time the teams met in Great Bend on Jan. 17, Barton County (19-7, 7-6) came out with a sense of urgency Saturday. Most of it coming from their guards, Steven and Jackson. They hit five 3-pointers apiece and both had 21 points. When Steven and Jackson weren't hurting the Busters from the outside, they each were able to create point in other ways. As time ran down on the first half, Steven spun his way into the paint and threw up a floater that sank through the net with one second left. The shot gave the Cougars a 38-33 lead.

"(Barton County) is 13-of-19 from 3-point range and eight of 12 in the second half, I think that's the difference in the game," GCCC head coach Kris Baumann said. "We didn't do a very good job of defending the 3-point shot. We talked about it in our scouting report, but we obviously didn't do a very good job of getting to their shooters."

The Cougars finished 50 percent from the floor as Garden City couldn't come up with an answer down the stretch. The Busters did fight its way back from an 11-point deficit in the second half as a Sterling Link alley-oop dunk from Ragan tied the score at 71-71. Barton County answered with a Javon Parris layup and the Cougars never looked back from there.

"I'll give Barton credit, they came in here and stepped up, and made shots when they had to," Baumann said.

Garden City had plenty of fire power through Ragan, Link, Tyrone Flemming and Corey Claitt as the four starters all finished in the double-figures. Down the stretch though, it was Barton County that had all the answers, even without Jackson in the final 5:46 of the second half. He left the game with a knee injury.

Claitt led the way for Garden City with 18 points. He was followed by Ragan, who hit five 3-pointers on his way to 17 points and five assists. Link scored 16 for the Busters, and Flemming added 14.

Along with the combined 42 points from Steven and Jackson, Qa'rraan Calhoun scored 13 and Nikia Williams added 10 for Barton County.

The Busters will off until Saturday when they travel to Liberal to face Seward County.

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Barton County 81, Garden City 73

BARTON COUNTY (19-7, 7-6): Lamb 0-2 0-0 0, Calhoun 4-7 4-5 13, Parris 3-7 0-0 6, Schneider 2-5 0-0 5, Jackson 7-11 2-2 21, Steven 7-11 2-3 21, Bueno 0-1 2-2- 2, Perry 0-3 0-0 0, Williams 5-9 0-0 10, Simmons 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 29-58 10-12 81.

GARDEN CITY (17-9, 6-7): Flemming 6-11 2-3 14, McNabb 0-0 0-0 0, Young 0-1 2-2 2, Ragan 6-17 0-0 17, Tarvin 2-8 0-0 4, Claitt 7-12 2-4 18, Ottley 0-2 2-2 2, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Link 7-8 2-4 16. Totals 28-60 10-15 73.

Halftime--Barton County, 38-33. 3-Point Goals--Barton County 13-19 (Jackson 5-7, Steven 5-6, Schneider 1-3, Calhoun 1-2, Simmons 1-1), Garden City 7-17 (Ragan 5-10, Claitt 2-2, Tarvin 0-4, Young 0-1). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Barton County 37 (Lamb 8), Garden City 38 (Flemming 9). Assists--Barton County 12 (Parris 3, Steven 3), Garden City 12 (Ragan 5). Total Fouls--Barton County 15, Garden City 17.