ACCC men not able to stop KCK

Two things their coach said Allen County Community College’s Red Devil men needed to do to be successful didn’t happen Wednesday night.
“We have to keep game scores in the 60s and 70s to have the opportunity to win because we aren’t a high-powered offensive team,” said Anwar Perry, ACCC men’s head coach. “And we have to slow the pace of the game — get into a half-court game.”
As the Red Devils picked back up in Jayhawk Eastern Division play Wednesday at home, visiting Kansas City, Kan., Community College’s Blue Devils ran past them. The Blue Devils rolled to an 85-71 victory.
The loss put Allen County at 0-3 in conference play and 3-11 overall. KCK improved to 2-1 and 11-3.
“We let them get out quickly but then settled into running our offense, set plays, and we got back in the game,” Perry said.
“The problem is that once we got a lead we allowed them to dictate the tempo of the game again. They forced us to run with them and we’re not that type of team.”
Allen County trailed 8-0 then went on an eight-point run with baskets from Keevis Tukes, Terrell Shears, Chad Rourk and Thomas Daniel. A putback by Shears made it 10-10 and Jason Smith had a breakaway dunk to put ACCC up 12-10 with 13:50 left in the first half.
Ricky Hollis’ three-pointer at the 11:01 mark put Allen County in front 17-16. Despite stopping the Blue Devils several times down the court, the Red Devils could not build on their lead.
Kevin Lysaught nailed a three for KCK taking back the lead at 19-17. The Blue Devils never trailed again.
The Red Devils were within four points, 27-23, when the Blue Devils rattled off 13 unanswered points. The run included three three-point field goals and two technical free throws.
Kansas City led 42-27 at halftime.
“As I told my team at halftime, Kansas City was on the pace to score 80 points or more. We just can’t win those types of games. We don’t have the firepower,” Perry said.
Allen County was able to cut the margin to eight points several times in the second half but never got closer. The Red Devils shot 53 percent, 27 of 51, from the field by the Blue Devils fired up at 71 percent, 30 of 42.
Smith led the Red Devils with 25 points, four rebounds, three steals and four assists. Daniel added 13 points and Tukes had 12 points and five assists. Kelly dished out five assists.
Dennis Tinnon scored 22 points for KCK while Duane Smith had 20 and Brandon Morris added 14. Kansas City had a 26 to 12 edge in rebounding.
Allen County plays at sixth-ranked Coffeyville (13-2, 2-1) Saturday.
Allen County (27-44—71) (FG/3-pt): Smith 7/1-2-1-26, Tukes 3/2-0-3-12, Kelly 0/1-0-5-3, Rourk 1-0-0-2, Daniel 5-3-3-13, Hollis 0/2-0-0-6, Myrick 0-0-1-0, Shears 3-1-3-7, Benton 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 21/6-13-17-71.
Kansas City (42-43—85) (FG/3-pt): Tinnon 7/1-5-3-22, Morris 6-2-2-14, Smith 5/2-4-2-20, Lysaught 1/1-1-1-6, Ezeamii 3-1-5-7, Sloan 1/1-3-1-8, Bush 2-4-4-8. TOTALS: 25/5-20-18-85.