Story by Kalon Fullerton

The Butler Grizzlies saw their Region VI tournament run end on Friday, as the Grizzlies fell to the Barton Cougars in the Region semifinals at the Garvey Center on the campus of Friends University in Wichita., as Barton took the game, 59-43.

The Grizzlies were hot out of the gate, jumping out to an 8-0 run but the Cougars were able to respond with a 13-3 run that gave Barton a two point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Cougars stretched the lead to as many as six in the second quarter but the Grizzlies trimmed the lead to just three points at halftime, trailing 25-22 as the two teams went into the locker room. The Grizzlies sunk four three pointers which helped keep them in the game, and also forced nine Barton first half turnovers.

The Cougars came out hot in the third quarter, jumping out to a 14-2 run and outsourcing Butler 19-8 in the third quarter, taking a 14 point lead into the final frame. The Grizzlies trimmed the lead to 11 in the fourth, but got no closer.

Jaila Harding led the Grizzlies with 11 points, and was the only Butler scorer to finish with double figures. The Grizzlies shot just 28% as a team and just 23% from beyond the three point line. The Grizzlies got 14 points from their bench, as well as 13 assists. Freddie Wallace and Syncere Harrod led the team, both with four.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Cougars, finishing with 32 rebounds. Butler was led on the glass by Harding, who finished with 10 rebounds, good for a double-double. Butler also forced 19 turnovers, including Harrod's three steals.

Butler drops to 23-7 with the loss, and has now lost three straight games to the Cougars. Butler will have to hope for an at-large bid to the NJCAA Tournament in Lubbock, Texas to keep their season alive.