FORT SCOTT — It was a heartstopper for head coach Anwar Perry Wednesday.
Allen County Community College’s Red Devils were clinging to a one-point lead and had the ball with 7.1 seconds left. Fort Scott Community College’s Greyhounds had just hit two free throws.
The Red Devils turned the basketball over on the in-bounds play. That gave the Greyhounds the ball under their own basket and an opportunity to win the game. Both teams were after a second Jayhawk Eastern Division victory.
A timeout was called with 4.3 seconds left then the Red Devils defended as the Greyhounds missed two shots at the bucket. Allen County came out of Arnold Arena with a 55-54 win.
The victory put the Red Devils at 2-5 in conference play and 5-13 overall. Fort Scott dropped to 1-6 and 2-16.
Allen County hosts Independence Community College Saturday. Tipoff is 8 p.m. in the ACCC gym. The Pirates (6-1, 14-5) defeated Cowley County 74-69 Wednesday.
In other Jayhawk East games Wednesday, Highland beat Labette 88-53 and No. 11 Coffeyville defeated Neosho County 101-91.
The Red Devils pushed out to a 27-12 lead in the first half but the homestanding Greyhounds closed to within four, 31-27 by intermission. The second half was a close battle with Fort Scott leading 39-36 early.
Jason Smith had a three-point play for the Red Devils to tie the game at 51-51 with 5:49 left in the game. The Red Devils took a two-point lead on a one-and-one by Smith, two minutes later.
Allen County stayed on top at 53-52 until it was Smith again. He got a layup with less than a minute to play and put the Devils up 55-52. Fort Scott’s Teance Walton sank two free throws at the seven-second mark.
Smith went 11 of 14 at the free-throw line for the Red Devils. He led all scorers with 21 points. Thomas Daniel had 10 of the team’s 29 rebounds and Terrell Shears grabbed seven rebounds.
Keeves Tukes and Ricky Hollis each had eight points, both hitting two three-point field goals on the night. Tukes had two steals and two assists and Hollis handed out two assists.
The Red Devils shot just 38 percent, 18 of 47, from the field but dropped in 15 of 22 free throw attempts. Allen County had 16 turnovers.
Walton led the Greyhounds with 17 points as he was 9 of 10 at the line. Robert Mason added 15 points. Fort Scott shot 43.5 percent, 17 of 39, from the field and was 16 of 23 from the line.
Allen County (31-24—55) (FG/3-pt): Hollis 1/2-0-5-8, Smith 5-11-2-21, Tukes 1/2-0-1-8, Kelly 3-0-3-6, Shears 2-2-2-6, Benton 0-0-2-0, Daniel 2-2-5-6. TOTALS: 14/4-15-20-55.
Fort Scott (27-27—54) (FG/3-pt): Mason 1/3-4-0-15, Stephens 0-0-1-0, Mills 0-1-4-1, Carter 2-1-1-5, Barner 4-0-2-8, Hayes 2-1-2-5, Walton 4-9-4-17, Flowers 0/1-0-3-3. TOTALS: 13/4-16-17-54.
Red Devils outlast Greyhounds
