CONCORDIA — There was one upset in the first round of Region VI tournament games among men’s teams.
And it was by Allen County Community College’s Red Devils. The ACCC men, seeded sixth out of the Jayhawk Eastern Division, went on the road Tuesday and upended Cloud County Community College 77-68.
The Thunderbirds were the No. 3 seed out of the Jayhawk Western Division. Cloud County finished the season at 19-12.
“Our guys came out ready to play and we quickly were out to a 17-3 lead and never trailed in the game,” said Anwar Perry, ACCC men’s head coach.
“The game was tied 28-28 when we finished the first half with a 9-2 run.”
Allen County’s men advance to the Region VI tournament quarterfinals Saturday. The Red Devils face fellow Jayhawk East foe Cowley County at 3 p.m. in Koch Arena at Wichita State University.
Cowley County beat Barton County 65-63 in overtime Tuesday. Also in the first round, Seward County beat Labette 99-63, Kansas City, Kan., beat Dodge City 80-71, Coffeyville beat Colby 86-65, Garden City defeated Neosho County 86-62, Independence beat Butler 67-64 and Hutchinson defeated Fort Scott 51-39.
In the women’s Region VI opening round, Allen County dropped its ninth game in a row losing to Cloud County 77-36 Tuesday. The Red Devil women finished at 3-27 overall as they went 1-17 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play.
Other women’s scores were: Cowley County 56, Pratt 37, Seward County 64, Fort Scott 41, Coffeyville 67, Garden City 45, Butler 57, Kansas City, Kan., 45, Barton County 84, Labette 47, Independence 74, Colby 64, and Hutchinson had a bye.
Allen County’s men pushed to a 37-30 halftime lead over host Cloud County Tuesday. They outscored the T-Birds 40-38 in the second half to claim the win.
“In the second half, we just continued to pound the ball inside to Thomas (Daniel) and Terrell (Shears) and Jason (Smith) played his normal game,” Perry said.
“Plus we shot the free throws well.”
Jayhawk conference leading scorer Jason Smith was perfect at the free-throw line, 11 of 11, for the Red Devils. Smith, who averages 24 points a game, finished with 31 points Tuesday. He had a triple double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go with his 31 points.
Terrell Shears fired in 18 points, going 6 of 8 at the line. Allen County cashed in on 20 of 27 free throw attempts on the night.
Thomas Daniel had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Devils. Rickey Hollis fired in 10 points.
The Red Devils shot 46 percent, 28 of 61, from the field. Cloud County hit at a 44-percent clip, 26 of 59, and sank 13 of 18 free throws.
Others scoring for Allen County were Keevis Tukes with four points plus two steals and Tahshaun Kelly with three points.
Allen County’s men finished the regular season last Saturday at Cowley County, losing 76-68. In January, the Tigers took a 75-70 decision over the Red Devils here at home.
“We may have to change things up a little and catch them (Cowley) off guard. I’m watching film right now,” Perry said.
“Playing them for a third time on a neutral floor could be a good thing for us. We just have to be ready and play aggressively.”
There was no report to the Register on the ACCC women’s game at Cloud County.
ACCC men win, advance
