Allen cruises past NCCC

In a game of runs, Allen Community College saved its best for last.
The Red Devils held visiting Neosho County Community College scoreless over the final 3 minutes, 42 seconds, while erasing a six-point deficit in the process.
Andrew Rountree’s layup with 2:10 remaining gave the Red Devils the lead for good in an 80-73 victory.
“This gives us some confidence,” Rountree said. “We’ve been able to right the ship a little bit.”
Neosho County led 73-67 when Fountain laid in a nifty reverse layup, followed one possession later by a Seth Walden 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 73-72.
The Red Devils forced a Neosho County turnover, and Allen’s ensuing possession ended was capped by Rountree’s layup with 2:10, giving the Red Devils the lead for good.
“I got knocked around a bit early, but my teammates did a good job of keeping me into the game,” said Rountree, who was sidelined with early foul trouble.
The defensive fun was just beginning for the Red Devils.
Neosho County was unable to get off a field goal attempt before the shot clock buzzer sounded with 1:34 left.
“That was the turning point in the game,” Allen’s Cameron Blue said.
“That’s what Coach had been stressing: getting defensive stops,” Rountree added.
DeAndrae Barnett missed on a field goal, but Rountree, who had been saddled with early foul trouble, was there for the rebound. His free throws pushed the lead to 76-73.
Neosho County’s Daniel Magley was whistled for an offensive foul on the Panthers’ next possession, which eventually led to two Blue free throws for the Red Devils.
Neosho County missed its last two field goal attempts from there.
The ending was a far cry from the opening half, when Neosho County shot a blistering 60 percent, even overcoming an early 18-4 hole to take the lead.
The Panthers outscored Allen 26-10 over the next 10 minutes to lead 30-28.
The lead swelled to 42-36 at halftime.
“We helped them out by not playing very good defense,” Shaw said. “I challenged the guys at halftime to do better defensively and to be more aggressive offensively.”
The game was nip-and-tuck through much of the second half. Walden’s trey with 10:54 remaining gave Allen its first lead of the half, 58-56. Neosho County retook the lead with an 11-3 run, ending with Magley’s basket with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.
Ricky Roberts and Fountain responded with field goals for Allen, cutting the gap to 67-65. The teams traded baskets until Neosho’s D’Marco Smith hit a baseline runner while falling to the floor, followed by a steal and basket by Magley with 3:42 left, giving the Panther’s a six-point lead.
The Red Devils cranked up their defense from there
“I’m really proud of their effort,” Shaw said. “This is the type of game we’ve been losing. To come away with a win was big.”
Leading the way for Allen was Blue, who was slowed by a flu bug this week.
He still managed to score a team-high 19 points to go with nine rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes of playing time.
“I’ve been under the weather, but I still pushed myself,” he said.
“Seth Walden also hit some huge shots for us,” Shaw said.
“It’s nice to do this against our rival, since they’re just down the road,” Rountree said. “Now, we need to take this and go with it Saturday.”
Allen travels to Coffeyville Saturday.
Barnette scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half, hitting four treys in the process, while Roberts added 11 points with five rebounds. Walden scored nine on 3 of 6 shooting from 3-point range.
Jake Stoppel’s 21 points led Neosho County, followed by Smith and D’Avonte Garland with 13 each. Magley scored 10.
The rivalry game featured vocal contingent of students for both sides, adding extra flavor.
“Our crowd was great,” Shaw said. “I’d like to have a student section that vocal every night.”
Neosho Co. (42-31—73)
Allen (36-44—80)
Neosho Co. (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Dummars 0-2-1-2, Magley 5-0-3-10, Smith 6-1-0-13, Oyugi 3-1-2-7, Stoppel 6-9-4-21, Garland 4/1-2-2-13, Nicholas 2-0-3-4, Nolen 0/1-0-1-3. TOTALS: 26/2-15-16–73.
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Rountree 2-2-3-6, Roberts 2/1-4-0-11, Fountain 3-2-0-8, Schippers 0/1-0-4-3, Uno 2-0-2-4, Keiswetter 2-0-2-4, Barnett 1/4-2-2-16, Blue 3/3-4-2-19, Walden 0/3-0-0-9, Stockebrand 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 15/12-14-16-80.