Not much went the way either team wanted it during the first semester of basketball at Allen County Community College. Neither Red Devil team was where it wanted to be at the Christmas break in the 2010-2011 season.
Wednesday the ACCC basketball teams break open the new year with Jayhawk Eastern Division play. It’s conference action the rest of the way and the Red Devil women and men have an 0-2 start.
“We’re going to a more game-management style of play this semester,” said Anwar Perry, ACCC men’s head coach. “Even though we got beat by 26 points at Hutchinson in our last game in December, if you were there just watching the game, and not the scoreboard, it wasn’t a runaway.”
Perry said the Red Devil men played better and at a pace that was suited for their team. He said they missed 28 layups in that game.
“We’re going to more of a half-court game which is more our style. Our guys have bought into it. We don’t have guys scoring 15 to 20 points a night. We have five guys who score eight to 12 points a game,” Perry said.
Sophomore Jason Smith leads the Red Devils in scoring, averaging 23.9 points a game, and in rebounds and assists. Smith is No. 2 on Jayhawk East’s scoring list and sophomore Keevis Tukes, who averages 11 points, is eighth in three-point field goals made.
Freshman Terrell Shears averages nine points while freshman Thomas Daniel and sophomore Tahshaun Kelly average seven points a game.
The ACCC men are 3-9 going into the second half.
Allen County’s women are on a 10-game losing streak. They are 2-11 overall.
“Our mind-set is better. Our players are committed to doing the right things on and off the court,” said Marcus Hicks, ACCC women’s head coach.
“We’re working on learning to do the little things right on defense and knowing we have to be strong rebounding the basketball.”
Sophomore Danielle Best and freshman Rackell Goldson lead the Red Devil women in scoring. They are 14th and 15th on the Jayhawk East scoring list.
Best is No. 1 in the Jayhawk East in three-point field goals made; she averages 11.7 points a game. Goldson averages 11 points.
Freshman Queona Walker has scored 105 points and has 61 assists. Allen County’s leading rebounder, sophomore Jazmynn Johnson’s eligibility status is up in the air.
“We’re not sure if Jazmynn will be with us this semester. Regardless, we have to focus on fundamentals,” Hicks said.
Allen County’s women average 21 turnovers a game. They shoot 62 percent from the free-throw line.
ACCC teams get new mind-sets
