Empty possessions down the stretch proved costly for Allen Community College’s men Saturday.
Meanwhile, visiting Highland Community College’s Martell Collins drained a tie-breaking three-pointer with 1:25 left in regulation to give the Scotties a 61-58 lead with 1:25 left.
The Red Devils turned the ball over on their subsequent possession, then came up dry when Ricky Roberts missed a 3-point attempt with 20 seconds left.
Highland’s Jaleni Neely drained two free throws with 8 seconds left to secure what became a 63-61 win.
Allen had one last shot for a desperation 3-point attempt, but a pass to center court with 2 seconds left was picked off by Bryant Fultz of the Scotties, his second crucial steal of the game.
The loss drops the Red Devils to 0-1 in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division play. The Red Devils (4-9 overall) host Independence Wednesday.
“They made the plays down the stretch that we couldn’t,” Allen coach Andy Shaw said. “I told the guys going in that this game would be decided on who played harder. Both teams played hard. It boiled down to execution.”
Allen’s sterling defensive effort throughout the contest was key in the Red Devils’ ability to erase an eight-point deficit in the second half.
Highland led 54-47 with less than 7 minutes remaining before Ben Uno drained a three-pointer to trigger an 11-4 run for the Red Devils.
Cameron Blue’s putback with 2:23 left in the game tied the score for Allen at 58-58.
Allen had one possession with a chance to take the lead from there, but Uno lost control of the ball on a drive to the basket with 1:45 left in the game.
Collins’ 3-pointer broke the deadlock, and Allen’s next possession ended when Fultz stepped in front of an Andrew Rountree pass with less than a minute on the clock.
Allen gained a reprieve when Lloyd Young missed a driving layup with 27 seconds left. The ball went out of bounds to the Red Devils, who again went scoreless when Ricky Roberts could not connect on a 3-point attempt.
“It was a bit rushed,” Shaw said. “We had some other guys open on the play.”
The Scotties led 53-58 when DeAndrae Barnette hit a 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds on the clock. Young missed a free throw that led to Allen’s last possession.
Despite the loss, Shaw saw reasons for optimism for the 4-9 Red Devils.
“Our defensive effort was excellent all game long,” he said.
Rountree’s 17 points and seven rebounds led the way for Allen, to go along with three blocked shots, a steal and an assist.
He was followed by Barnette’s 13 points and five boards and Bryce Schippers’ 11 points.
Shaw noted the Scotties keyed much of their defense on slowing Blue, who finished with five points.
“The word is out on Cameron and what he can do for us,” Shaw said. “But even then, he helped us in so other ways.”
Blue had eight rebounds to pace the Red Devils. Roberts dished out four assists.
Neely led the Scotties with 17 points, followed by Collins with 15 and James Walker with 11.
The Red Devils zipped out to a quick 5-0 lead on a pair of Schippers free throws and a Barnette 3-pointer. Walker’s basket midway through the first half gave the Scotties the lead for the first time. His 3-pointer a minute later put Highland back in front 16-15.
Highland never trailed again.
“We know that the conference race is a marathon, not a sprint,” Shaw said. “We know we have to improve.”
Highland (28-35)
Allen (25-36)
Highland (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Smith 2-3-2-7, Young 1-0-2-2, Neely 4/2-3-1-17, Fultz 3-0-4-6, Waterman 1-0-0-2, Funderburke 1-1-5-3, Ellis 0-0-1-0, Walker 4/1-0-4-11, Collins 5/1-2-2-15. TOTALS: 21/4-9-21-63.
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Rountree 7-3-2-17, Roberts 2-0-1-4, Fountain 1-0-3-2, Schippers 0/2-5-0-11, Uno 1/1-0-5-5, Keiswetter 2-0-2-4, Barnett 1/3-2-3-13, Blue 2-1-3-5, Stockebrand 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 16/6-11-20-61.
Miscues thwart Allen
