Wichita, Kan. - The Coffeyville Community College Red Raven Men's Basketball team's season came to an end Friday night as they lost to the Cougars of Barton County 76-70 in the Region VI Tournament Semifinals. The Red Ravens close out their season with a 24-8 record overall.
The #2-seeded and #17 NJCAA-ranked Red Ravens were facing the #3-seeded and #20 NJCAA-ranked Cougars for the third time on the year. Coffeyville had won the first meeting in December at Great Bend by nine points (85-77) and then won at home in February against the Cougars by nine points (86-76). However, the loss against the Red Ravens back on February 4th was the last loss Barton had on their schedule, and the Cougars had reeled off 8 straight wins as they came into the semifinal against Coffeyville.
The first half of this Semifinal matchup was pretty even with Coffeyville holding a slight 33-31 lead at halftime. However, after halftime, the Cougars picked up the offensive intensity and gained the lead at the 16:56 mark of the second half. Two back-to-back made threes from the Cougars put them up 49-43 at the 14:22 mark to go. Coffeyville played from behind the rest of the game. A Barton made three at the 5:36 mark to go gave the Cougars the largest lead of the game at 67-57. However, over the next couple of minutes, the Ravens fought back and tied the game at 68-68 with 2:54 remaining in the game and it looked like the tide had shifted into Coffeyville's favor. However, Barton finished the game on an 8-2 run to gain the victory from Coffeyville 76-70.
Statistically, Coffeyville had one of their worst shooting games from three in a while as they shot 31% (7-22) in the game compared to Barton's 42% (9-20). Barton also outrebounded the Ravens 39-28 in the game.
Barton would eventually lose to Butler in the Region VI Championship game.
Coffeyville put in for an At-Large bid into the NJCAA Tournament but was not selected for this year's NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson Kansas. Coffeyville's season ends with a 24-8 record on the year.