The Allen Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams were each dealt tough losses in the final minutes at home against Kansas City Kansas Community College on Wednesday.
The Red Devil men (16-6; 5-1) fought tooth and nail when the game came down to one possession in the final seconds of a 66-63 loss. The Lady Red Devils (14-7; 3-3) also battled in a tight knit matchup, coming up just a few possessions short in a 65-59 loss.
The Lady Devils
The Allen women were the more dominant team in the first half, holding a 32-29 advantage at the break. The Lady Devils used the front court to their advantage when Skyler Evans banked in a layup and a couple of free throws.
Britney Schroer and Naomi Smith also added two-point baskets in the first while Noa Muranaka hit a couple of two-point jumpers. KCKCC, however, took the lead at the end of the first as Jada Johnson hit a three and added four more points for a 16-14 lead.
“They’re one of the most athletic teams in the conference,” said Allen women’s basketball interim head coach Andy Shaw. “They just gave us fits at times and their athleticism took over. They made some tough and timely shots to separate from us, but we kept chipping away.”
Muranaka and Shade Richardson each nailed a couple of three’s in the second quarter to help Allen go on a run and take the lead. The three’s were enough to give the Lady Devils a three-point advantage heading into the locker room, 32-29.
In the second half, the Blue Devils’ Jada Mayberry and Rebecca Christodoulou each knocked down triples. Jennifer Guilbeaux and Trinity McDow also each went for four points in the third to take back the lead by one point.
Allen was led in the third by Tonya Williams connecting on a three and Sara Ortiz banking in a couple of layups and a free throw. The Lady Devils trailed heading to the fourth, 45-44.
“They (Allen) competed and they didn’t give up,” Shaw said. “They had the fight to come back and they didn’t quit. We cut into the lead and made some plays to keep fighting all the way until the end. That was a positive to keep fighting.”
The Lady Devils were ultimately downed in the fourth when Johnson hit four two-pointers and a pair of free throws and McDow went for a three and four more points for KCKCC.
Evans hit four free throws, part of her six points in the fourth and Muranaka scored five in the final quarter but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Devils were taken down by a 65-59 final.
Muranaka led Allen offensively with 16 points, including a trio of three’s. Skyler Evans joined her in double figures with 10 points, Richardson scored eight and Ortiz added seven.
The Red Devils
Allen began the game slowly and fell behind early when KCKCC got behind Jalen Broyles’ 14 points in the first half including a pair of three’s. Gary Bess Jr. also added five points in the first half to lead the Blue Devils’ early charge.
