CHANUTE — An overtime 3-pointer by freshman guard Clyde Davis as time expired on the clock, sealed a series sweep of arch-rival Neosho Community College, with Allen taking the contest 85-82.
Rallying back from a double-digit deficit, the Red Devils picked up their fourth win in a row ahead of the penultimate regular season contest Wednesday against the top-ranked, undefeated Johnson County Community College Cavaliers.
“We have a bye week this week and we can regroup before the biggest game of the season at home versus Johnson,” Allen coach Patrick Nee said. “We are close to wrapping up the two seed, and I would love to win out in the second half of the conference.”
Strong 3-point shooting by Neosho put Allen in the Panthers’ rear-view mirror, trailing 46-31 at halftime. Instead of granting the packed house a celebratory NCCC homecoming, the Red Devils clawed their way back into contention on a 42-27 second half run to force overtime.
A 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from freshman guard Moses Stephenson kickstarted Allen’s second half. A jumper by freshman forward Derrick Cooper, then a pair of Sheen Saunders’s dunks cut Neosho’s lead to single digits. A Jayson Demcher 3-pointer tied the game 61-61 as the rivals traded shot for shot through the fourth quarter whistle.
“We talked about being undefeated in OT in the huddle and the guys said ‘We got this. We’ve been here before,’” Nee said.
In overtime, Allen continued trading blow for blow with Davis Jr., Demcher and Jordan giving Allen an 82-77 lead. The Panthers went on a 5-0 run, potentially setting up a second overtime, but mistakenly gave Allen the ball back with 1.8 seconds left.
Davis Jr. ended the night with a team-leading 19 points, five assists and three steals. Demcher, Saunders and freshman forward William Jordan each reached double-digit scoring. Jordan made the feat after coming off the bench. Demcher ended the night with a double-double after bringing down a team-leading 10 rebounds to complement his 18 points.
“We’re really starting to grow as a team. The ball is moving a little better and guys are pushing more in transition and that’s where the dunks start happening,” Coach Nee said. “This just shows the consistency growing of this team being all freshmen but three players. We think our best basketball is still to come.”
With the win, the Red Devils improved to 16-9 overall and 6-3 for second in the Jayhawk Conference behind JCCC (27-0, 10-0).
With only two games left in the regular season, catching the Cavaliers is mathematically impossible, regardless of the outcome of the 8 p.m. Wednesday contest.
However, holding on to the No. 2 spot in the conference standings will impact Allen’s regional tournament seeding. Nee hopes the Allen Red Devils fans turnout for Wednesday’s Sophomore Night festivities and bring the same energy they brought to NCCC.
“Thanks to all the fans and students that came out. It was an amazing atmosphere, and I feel like it really helped our team late in regulation and OT,” Nee said.
