The No. 17 Barton Cougar men's basketball team roared past the Seward County Saints 102-83 at Fleske Fieldhouse Friday to qualify for Saturday's Region 6/Plains District championship.
Barton (24-8) qualifies for the fourth consecutive Region 6 championship. The Cougars play the No. 19 Butler Grizzlies in Saturday's 5 p.m. championship game at the Fleske Fieldhouse. The Cougars swept the Grizzlies (23-9) during the league season 118-113 at home and 102-94 at El Dorado.
Saturday's Region 6 champion clinches an automatic bid for the 2026 NJCAA Basketball Championship March 21-28 at Hutchinson. However, both teams are guaranteed an NJCAA berth based on past postseason history.
Barton's Aris Rodriguez led the Cougars with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding four steals and a trio of 3-pointers without committing a turnover.
Jayden Ramirez matched his career high with 22 points off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 day at the free-throw line. Noah Williams added 19 points and seven rebounds.
Sebastian Muchitsch recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Brian Sullivan, Jr. chipped in 13 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Jon Byrd directed the offense with eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Barton shot 52.4% from the field while holding Seward County to 35%. The Cougars gained a 52-28 advantage in points in the paint. The Cougars also owned an 18-4 edge in fastbreak points, converted 30-of-41 free throws, and finished with a 45-40 rebounding advantage.
Awit Mamer and Lucas N'Gombo paced Seward County with 13 points apiece, Milligan added 11, and Lyna Brooks Jr. contributed nine points and 11 rebounds. The Saints made 27 of 77 field goals and shot 23% (11-42) from 3-point range with the reserves making 4 of 20 shots.
The Saints led 8-3 before Barton answered with eight straight to grab its first advantage. Seward's third three-pointer of the opening six minutes pulled the contest even at 11, but the Cougars quickly shifted the momentum for good.
Rodriguez buried a go-ahead trey, Muchitsch added two free throws, and Sullivan capped a 9-0 burst with a tip-in and a three-pointer to stretch the margin to 25-13 with 9:10 left in the half.
Seward trailed 31-24 on Bailey Milligan's 3-pointer. Barton's Ramirez scored seven consecutive points for a 38-24 lead. Noah Williams added seven points for a commanding 45-28 lead into the locker room.
Second-half action combined for a wild 112 points. Play resembled a WWE cage fight in the final 20 minutes, featuring a sequence producing three technical fouls.
Williams and Rodriguez combined for Barton's first 14 points of the second half. Rodriguez knocking down a pair of threes for a 59-36 lead.
Sullivan and Muchitsch scored consecutive baskets to produce the Cougars' largest lead at 65-41 with 12:10 remaining. Every Seward push was quickly answered.
Seward 28 45—83
Barton 45 57—102
SEWARD (22-11)—Mamer (3-9) 4-4 13; N'Gombo 4-11 (0-2) 5-6 13; Milligan 4-6 (2-4) 1-2 11; Brooks 3-11 (0-5) 3-3 9; McKinnie 3-7 (1-3) 0-0 7; Coleman 2-7 (1-4) 0-0 5; Fleret (0-1) 0-0 0; Dowdell (0-2) 2-2 2; Chapman 2-3 0-0 4; Powers 3-8 (1-4) 0-0 7; Kidd (1-4) 0-0 3; Totals 27-77 (11-42) 18-23 83
BARTON (24-8)—Rodriguez 10-18 (3-6) 5-10 28; Ramirez 7-11 (1-2) 7-7 22; Noah Williams 6-11 (1-2) 6-6 19; Muchitsch 4-8 (0-2) 7-8 15; Sullivan Jr. 5-9 (1-2) 2-2 13; Rucker 0-0 2-4 2; Inanov 0-0 0-0 0; Byrd 1-2 (0-1) 1-4 3; Mikey Williams 1-4 (0-1) 0-0 2; Chuol 0-0 0-0 0; Totals 33-63 (6-17) 30-41 102
Rebounds—SC 40 (Brooks 11); BC 45 (Muchitsch 13). Assists—SC 15; BC 11 (Byrd 8). Steals—SC 6; BC 10 (Rodriguez 4). TO—SC 14, BC 11
REGION 6 TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP—Barton (24-8) vs. Butler (23-9), 5 p.m.; SEMIFINALS—Barton 102, Seward 83; Butler 105, Cowley 104; FIRST ROUND—Barton 96, Cloud 95; Seward 84, Coffeyville 75; Butler 101, Hays NW 87; Cowley 76, Dodge City 69
