There’s no place like home.
Allen County Community College’s Red Devil women claimed their third straight win at home in as many Jayhawk Eastern Division games. They turned away Neosho County Community College’s Panthers 51-47 Saturday.
The Red Devils moved into a tie for third in the Region VI, Division I standings at 5-5 with Coffeyville (5-5, 11-13). Allen County goes to Coffeyville Wednesday.
“Another key win for us as we are battling for a home playoff game. When we lost early games that put us out of the running for the top spot in the standings, we set our sights on being in the top four to host a playoff game,” said Mark James, ACCC women’s head coach.
“Tonight, our players kept playing hard to get the win.”
Allen County is 5-7 in Jayhawk East play and 10-14 overall.
The ACCC women and men have won three consecutive Jayhawk East doubleheaders at home. The men rallied to beat Neosho County 70-61 Saturday night.
“We felt like we let one get away at Neosho County earlier this season. We had a seven-point lead with 32 seconds left and lost (62-59) so tonight’s game was big for us,” James said.
“We didn’t know how to win then (Jan. 11). But when you play this much basketball in this conference, you grow up quickly. That showed tonight.”
It was a game of runs by each team. Allen County had the final one for the victory.
The Panthers came in shooting as Jamaica Campbell downed two quick threes to push her team to the lead. In the next two minutes, Allen County took the lead.
Hannah Blackwell hit one of two free throws then Ebonie Jones and Rackell Goldson hit back-to-back threes. Jones’ second trey didn’t even make the net move to put ACCC up 10-8 at the 15:29 mark.
Neosho County scored eight unanswered points. Allen County responded with six straight — a basket by Miracle Davis and two by Goldson — to tie the game at 16-16.
The lead changed several times in the final seven minutes of the first half. Davis tied it again, 25-25, with 3:44 left. Neosho County got hit 2 of 4 free throws to go up 27-25 at halftime.
Jones opened the second half for ACCC with a three-pointer. Neosho County had the next two baskets to regain the lead. And so it went.
