Playing another week without the team's leading scorer, Barton sophomore Cougar Downing stepped up in a big way helping the Cougars to a 2-0 week averaging 23.5 points behind 54.2 percent shooting from the floor, a perfect 18-for-18 at the free-throw line and corralling in 4.0 rebounds in 28.5 minutes of action.

Downing opened the week logging 19 points on 50-percent shooting while pulling down five rebounds in 34 minutes of court time in a road loss at Cowley. The sophomore ended the week with his best outing of the season recording a new season-high 28 points on 57 percent shooting from the floor including a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe despite battling foul trouble for a majority of the second half seeing just 23-minutes of court time om a home victory over Hutchinson.

OTHERS NOMINATED: Rob Brown, Butler; Shawn Warrior, Dodge City; Aaron Franklin, Hutchinson; Jaylin Henderson, Seward County.