Every game is big for Allen County Community College’s Red Devil men. They are battling for a top four spot in the Jayhawk Eastern Division.
One win or one loss could swing the ACCC men from third to fifth quickly. And there are just two more games left in the regular season for the Red Devils.
That’s why Saturday’s 82-80 overtime win at home against Coffeyville was huge for the Red Devil men. Coffeyville stands second in the Jayhawk East at 12-4, 19-10. Cowley County is first at 13-3, 19-9.
How big was the win? Third-place Independence (11-5, 18-10) defeated Neosho County (11-6, 19-10) 94-85 Saturday.
Allen County’s win puts it at 11-5 and 16-11. It is in a tie with Independence at third and the Pirates come to ACCC on Saturday.
But the Red Devils can’t get caught looking to Saturday’s game. They have to travel to Parsons Wednesday to take on Labette (3-13, 8-20).
How even was Saturday’s game? The score was tied 35-35 at halftime. Each team had 36 points in the second half. Each team attempted 28 free throws but Allen County hit 22 and Coffeyville only 19.
“Both teams played really well. It was a close game and a back-and-forth contest the whole way,” said Mike Hayes, ACCC head coach.
Coffeyville hit some big three-pointers that helped build an eight-point lead with under three minutes to play in regulation. Allen County’s Anthony Clagett, who was 12 of 16 at the free-throw line, sank two free throws to get things started on a comeback.
“Keevis Tukes hit a big three with under a minute to play to put us up by one. They get a three-point play then Anthony went to the line and hit two free throws with 17 seconds left to tie the game,” Hayes said.
“Coffeyville never really got a good look at the end of regulation. We defended very well.”
Again, Allen County was down by one in the overtime when Tukes nailed his second three of the game. Coffeyville had the ball at the end of the overtime down two.
“We deflected the ball out of bounds with 13 seconds left. They got a not so good shot off then had two tips at the rim that didn’t go in. Yes, this was a huge win for us,” Hayes said.
Clagett ended up with 20 points, six rebounds and nine assists for the Red Devils. Andra Bailey, who fouled out two minutes into the overtime period, tossed in 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Tukes fired in 16 point sand had seven rebounds. Dennis Rumph had 14 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots.
Allen County shot 49 percent, 27 of 55, from the field. The Red Devils had 37 rebounds to the Red Ravens’ 38.
Kevin Broussard led the Red Ravens with 21 points. Jermaine Bransford had 17 points and Richard Townsend-Gant had 15. Townsend-Gant hit four threes and Broussard had three treys.
Albert Peterson added 11 points for Coffeyville. Coffeyville shot 38 percent, 26 of 69, from the field.
Allen County recognized the back-to-back Region VI, Division II golf championship teams of 2008 and 2009 on Saturday. Championship banners are being hung in the ACCC gym.
ALLEN COUNTY’S women dropped their fifth game in a row, 74-51, Saturday against Coffeyville. The Red Devil women are 2-14 in Jayhawk East play, which is last place, and 8-20 overall.
“We were within eight points then Coffeyville went on a 7-0 run to end the first half. We were never ever able to recover from that,” said Andy Hamilton, ACCC women’s head coach.
Hamilton said the Red Devils had too many turnovers in the first half. Allen County ended up with 19 for the game.
Dysyan Malone led the Red Devil women with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Breanna Shaw added 10 points and controlled five of the team’s 30 rebounds.
Allen County shot 34 percent, 16 of 47 from the field, and downed 17 of 30 free throws.
Coffeyville shot 41 percent, 28 of 68, from the field and hit 10 of 19 free throw attempts. No individual statistics for Coffeyville were available.
Allen County men (35-36-11 (OT) —82) (FG/3-pt): Jackson 1/1-0-2-5, Tukes 5/2-0-4-16, Rumph 4-6-2-14, Clagett 4-12-4-20, Bailey 4/2-4-5-18, Lee 2/1-0-3-7, Law 1-0-2-2. TOTALS: 21/6-22-22-82.
Coffeyville men (35-36-9 (OT)—80) (FG/3-pt): Hardyway 0-0-4-0, Johnson 2/1-0-0-7, Wilson 2/1-0-0-7, Broussard 3/3-6-2-21 Bransford 5-7-3-17, Peterson 3-5-4-11, Townsend-Gant 1/4-1-0-15, Bowlin 0-0-1-0, Biggers 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 17/9-19-19-80.
Allen County women (25-26—51) (FG/3-pt): Clark 0-1-1-1, Shaw 4-2-4-10, Shaffer 2-2-2-6, Malone 1/2-4-2-12, Best 0-0-2-0, McNeese 0-20-2, Rockhold 1-1-1-3, House 1-4-1-6, Nisbett 2-1-2-5, Johnson 3-0-2-6. TOTALS: 14/2-17-17-51.
